Just in time for ESPN the Weekend, Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex will finally become the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Here’s a preview of what the updated area will look like when it opens February 25th!
So what’s new to the facility other than a name change and new signage? Throughout the facility, ESPN’s name, logo, and colors (red, black, and white) will appear prominently on signs, flags, and globe icon at the front entrance. In addition, a new Welcome Center will be located just past the entrance where guests can get details on events currently held at the facility, purchase theme park
tickets, as well as watch scores, highlights, and ESPN programming on a large “Jumbotron” screen. Technology is a key feature throughout the facility as Disney is trying to replicate the technology present at any “big-time” sporting event with over 40 high-definition robotic video cameras, 10 handheld cameras, 40 high-definition video screens, and a second “Jumbotron” in Champion Stadium. Disney’s goal with this technology influx is to give the youth and amateur athletes a similar experience to a professional sports facility.
The famous roadside sign will be changed
The globe will sport the ESPN colors
The new ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill restaurant
The re-named ESPN Clubhouse Shop
The Wide World of Sports welcome center will serve as the main hub for guests
ESPN WWoS video screens will not only have the ability to play highlights from events currently going on at the facility, but a state-of-the-art digital editing center will have a direct uplink to ESPN’s television studios headquarters in Bristol, CT. Therefore, highlights from sporting events occurring at WWoS can be cropped, edited, and sent to ESPN Headquarters where ESPN on-air personalities can introduce and comment on the highlights. Video screens in Orlando will have a scrolling ticker of scores for WWoS events, play highlights from games at the facility, as well as professional sporting events from around the world. “Little Johnny” from California can watch highlights of himself kicking the winning goal at Disney’s Soccer Showcase right after the highlights from that weekend’s NFL games. Finally, everything seen on the video monitors at ESPN WWoS will be broadcast on a television channel in the rooms of all the on-property Disney resorts, and families on-property for sporting events can catch-up on all the game and tournament results from the comfort of their resort room.
ESPN will also use the WWoS facility to develop and test new advancements in on-air coverage of sporting events. In October 2009, the ESPN Innovation Lab officially opened at the WWoS Complex, a production house that has already produced new video technology. For example, “Ball Track”, a Doppler radar hit-tracking system that tracks home runs in baseball, was debuted during the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby Telecast. Another effect developed in the Innovation Lab, “Snap Zoom”, debuted on “Monday Night Football” in 2009 and was a freeze-frame technology that zoomed into an area of interest on the field. On occasion, ESPN will open this working facility to the public for guests to get a sneak peek at upcoming sporting technological advancements.
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