WDW Daily News

The 2019 Atlanta Braves’ final home spring training schedule at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex features games against some of the top teams in Major League Baseball including the 2017 World Champion Houston Astros, New York Yankees and Washington Nationals.

The Braves begin their home spring training schedule at Champion Stadium on Monday, Feb. 25 when they battle the Nationals. First pitch is set for 1:05 pm.

The Braves will play 16 home games against 10 different teams at Champion Stadium, including three games against the Detroit Tigers and two games each against the Astros, Miami Marlins, New York Mets and the Nationals. The Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays will make one visit each to Disney.

Atlanta is scheduled to play a trio of night games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex against the Phillies (March 8), Yankees (March 18) and Tigers (March 22). Those games start at 6:05 pm.

The Braves face the Mets March 23 at 1:05 pm in their final spring training game at Champion Stadium before moving to their new spring training facility in North Port, Fla.

Disney character appearances and special interactive moments, such as kids running the bases are some of the in-game entertainment opportunities that make Braves spring training at Disney a grand slam.

Individual spring training game tickets for Braves spring training games at Disney range from $15.00 (general admission lawn seats) to $60.00 (lower level reserved seats) and will go on sale November 19.

Tickets are available through the Atlanta Braves’ website (braves.com/springtraining), ESPN Wide World of Sports box office and through Ticketmaster (1-800-745-3000).

Fans have an extra reason to visit ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex this Labor Day weekend. The sports complex, which is hosting two top youth sports events, will also debut a new fan-friendly festival event.

The Labor Day Fan Zone takes place Saturday and Sunday inside the Visa Athletic Center and will be an interactive event featuring high-energy music by a popular DJ, food and beverage options, event merchandise, vendor booths, character greetings and big-screen televisions showing various sporting events. The event runs 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., both days.

Access to the Labor Day Fan Zone is included in the admission price to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (Adults and kids ages 10-over is $18.50; children ages 3 – 9 is $13.50).

The Labor Day Fan Zone is designed to give fans a fun experience while at the sports complex this weekend for the Disney Labor Day Baseball Classic and the Disney Soccer Showcase Qualifier.

The Disney Labor Day Baseball Classic is Friday through Monday (Aug. 31-Sept. 3) and the Disney Soccer Showcase Qualifier Saturday through Monday.

More than 260 athletes from 43 teams – including five from the U.S. Virgin Islands and five from Puerto Rico – will participate in the Disney Labor Day Baseball Classic.

Nearly 4,400 boys and girls soccer players from 270 teams around the country will be competing in the Disney Soccer Showcase Qualifier. Champions from the various age group divisions at the Disney Soccer Showcase Qualifier earn automatic selection into the Disney Girls’ Soccer Showcase (Nov. 22-25) and the Disney Boys’ Soccer Showcase (Dec. 27-31), which are nationally regarded as the top youth soccer tournaments in the country, attracting hundreds of college coaches looking for top recruits.

For more information about upcoming events at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, visit www.espnwwos.com.

The NFL announced that the Pro Bowl presented by Verizon is returning to Orlando for the third straight year, which means the Pro Bowl Week activities will primarily be held at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex again.

The sports complex at Walt Disney World Resort will once again be football headquarters during the NFL’s All-Star game week, serving at the host site for AFC and NFC team practices, the Pro Bowl Skills Showdown, the NFL Flag Championships powered by USA Football and more.

The Pro Bowl practices will involve 88 of the NFL’s All-Stars – 44 from the AFC and 44 from the NFC – as determined by a consensus of votes by fans, players and coaches.  Both teams will once again be led by offensive and defensive NFL Legends who will serve as captains representing each conference.

In 2018, the AFC Legends captains were Pro Football Hall of Famers Jason Taylor and LaDainian Tomlinson who combined for 11 Pro Bowls during their playing days. The NFC Legends captains were Pro Football Hall of Fame LB Derrick Brooks and three-time Pro Bowl RB Warrick Dunn.  The 2019 NFL Legends captains will be announced later this year.

One of NFL Pro Bowl Week’s most interesting and most anticipated events is the Pro Bowl Skills Showdown – a series of unique competitions where AFC All-Stars and their NFC counterparts compete against each other.  Key Pro Bowl Skills Showdown competitions include Dodge Ball, Kick, Tac Toe, best hands challenge, precision passing and the drone drop – a bonus event where one player from each team will attempt to catch footballs dropped from drones from increasing heights above the field. The player who records the highest catch total wins money for the charity of his choice.

Another popular event during NFL Pro Bowl Week is the NFL Flag Championships powered by USA Football. For the second straight year, sixty-four teams – eight regional champions in four divisions plus 32 at-large teams – will compete in the tournament.  NFL Pro Bowl Legends will serve as guest coaches, encouraging the teams as they compete for the national championship.

The 13-14 Boys Championship Game will be aired on ESPN on Sunday, Jan. 27 as part of the network’s broadcast of the Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Divisions include 9-10 coed, 11-12 coed, 13-14 boys and 13-14 girls.

Other NFL Pro Bowl Week activities include the NFL Pro Bowl Experience, the Special Olympics Flag Football game, Punt, Pass and Kick National Championship, the EA Sports Madden Bowl Challenge and more.

NFL Pro Bowl Week activities at the sports complex are free and open to the public.  NFL Pro Bowl Week culminates January 27 with the NFL Pro Bowl game televised live on ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

 

The inaugural Jr. NBA World Championship gets underway Tuesday, Aug. 7, at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.  The six-day global, youth basketball tournament will showcase the top 14U boys and girls teams from the United States and around the world, including countries such as India, Australia, China and Mexico.

The event brings together the top 32 teams (16 from the U.S. and 16 international) that advanced from regional competitions earlier this year.  The teams will compete in round-robin and single elimination games, and the winners of the U.S. and international brackets will play in the World Championship games on Aug. 12.

Three-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade, 2018 Hall of Fame inductee Grant Hill, eight-time NBA All-Star and Atlanta Hawks guard Vince Carter, two-time NBA All-Star and Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond and Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez will all participate in the event, which in addition to basketball games, will include life skills sessions, a community service playground build and a health and wellness session sponsored by Gatorade’s Sports Science Institute.

Wade, along with the current and former NBA stars, will be joined by WNBA legends Tamika Catchings, Swin Cash and Jennifer Azzi.

There are eight teams from the U.S. Boys division and eight from the U.S. Girls division:

U.S. Boys Division

Central – Lenexa, Kan.

Mid-Atlantic – Upper Marlboro, Md.

Midwest – Detroit, Mich.

Northeast – Westchester, N.Y.

Northwest – Seattle, Wash.

South – Dallas, Texas

Southeast – Atlanta, Ga.

West – Los Angeles, Calif.

U.S. Girls Division

Central – Kansas City, Mo.

Mid-Atlantic – Germantown, Md.

Midwest – South Bend, Ind.

Northeast – Westchester, N.Y.

Northwest – New Castle, Wash.

South – Dallas, Texas

Southeast – Columbia, S.C.

West – Los Angeles, Calif.

*Teams are based in the cities listed, but comprised of youth from throughout the respective regions

The 16 international teams represent Africa & Middle East, Asia Pacific, Canada, China, Europe, India, Mexico and South America.

The Atlanta Braves have announced that they will extend their Spring Training agreement with ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World Resort through April 2019.  The move was made to ensure there is enough time to complete their new facility in West Villages in the City of North Port, Sarasota County.  The Braves will play their final 2019 Spring Training game in the new ballpark.  The complex will officially open in April, 2019 with the team’s Florida operations moving in at that time.

“We are thankful for our good friends at Walt Disney World Resort and are excited for this extension,” said John Schuerholz, Atlanta Braves Vice Chairman Emeritus. “We also appreciate the foresight and thoughtfulness of our partners in North Port, Sarasota County and West Villages in recognizing such an extension will be of benefit as we continue to make progress on our new facility. When complete, our new, state-of-the-art facility will secure our long-term goal of creating a perfectly positioned and operational Spring Training facility for the next 30 years.”

The Braves have held their Spring Training at Champion Stadium at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida since 1998.

When completed, the new ballpark in North Port will feature 6,500 fixed seats and 2,500 additional general admission, including berm and concourse.

“We fully support this decision by the Atlanta Braves as the construction administrators for the project,” said Jeff Maultsby, director of Sarasota County’s Office of Business and Economic Development.  “The agreements between the project partners always envisioned and addressed the possibility that 2020 could be the Braves’ first full spring in Sarasota County, and we are excited to celebrate their arrival at the 2019 spring training finale.”

The overall facility will include six and a half practice fields, 55,000 square feet of clubhouse and fitness center for the Braves along with multi-purpose fields and public space that can be used for special events by the City and County.

The complex will operate year-round with extended spring training for minor league teams, Gulf Coast League and Fall Instructional League.

NFL Pro Bowl Week is kicking off at Walt Disney World® Resort this week and there are several opportunities for guests to get in on the fun if they are visiting.

All of the key Pro Bowl Week activities take place at our ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and many are free and open to the public, including the team practices. The AFC and NFC teams are training Wednesday starting at 10:30 a.m. and Thursday-Saturday starting at 11:30 am.

In addition to watching the players practice, fans can test their own football skills the NFL Pro Bowl Experience – a free, interactive fan zone with fun activities for the whole family. Open daily at 10 a.m. starting Wednesday, the NFL Pro Bowl Experience gives fans the opportunity to get even closer to the action with new football-related activities, immersive exhibits and sponsor activations.

After watching the pros, fans can get a look at the future at one of the NFL’s premier youth football events – the NFL FLAG Championships on Friday and Saturday. Fans interested in exclusive access to NFL-themed games and activities, youth football clinics and more, must register for the NFL Fan Mobile Pass.

The Pro Bowl fun extends beyond the field, too. There’s a Pro Bowl Fun Run Series at the Track & Field Complex at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Saturday at 1 p.m. The event features distances for runners of all ages and abilities, and participants will receive a finisher medallion, a race bib and a commemorative item, plus post-race refreshments. Runners can also expect to see some of their favorite Disney characters, Pro Bowl cheerleaders and mascots along the way. Spots are still available here.

With complimentary parking at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, fans can partake in all of the exciting Pro Bowl action all week long! Fans can also head over to Disney Springs® to catch the NFL Pro Bowl All-Star Pep Rally starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 27. The Pep Rally will feature special entertainment, games, NFL Cheerleaders and Mascot appearances, and more!

The NFL is bringing back a week-long celebration to unite and inspire the entire football community. Leading up to the game, the NFL is hosting a series of Pro Bowl Week events, including interactive fan experiences, youth and high school football competitions, and a series of community events with nonprofit organizations and military personnel to positively impact thousands of local residents, children, and their families.

One of the new additions this year is the Pro Bowl Kids Stadium Takeover. For the first time, after the Pro Bowl postgame ceremony, all kids ages 14 and under with parents at Camping World Stadium will be invited to run around the very same field as some of the NFL’s biggest stars.

Additional Pro Bowl Week activities will include the NFL Flag Championships and Play Football High School Day; Pro Bowl Skills Showdown; free access to AFC and NFC Team Practices; NFL Pro Bowl Experience, a free, football-themed fan festival; and NFL PLAY 60 events.

As part of the “Thank You, Coach” initiative, Pro Bowl players will invite a high school coach, who most impacted their life and NFL career, and a guest to celebrate Pro Bowl Week in Orlando. With the Pro Bowl Giveback Program, players will compete for more than bragging rights – each member of the winning team may apply for a $10,000 NFL Foundation grant to be donated to the high school or youth football program of their choice, help leave a lasting legacy on the community, and increase opportunities for the next generation of football players.

The week-long celebration will culminate with the Pro Bowl game, featuring 88 of the NFL’s best players, on Sunday, Jan. 28 at Camping World Stadium that will air on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ABC at a new start time of 3:00 PM ET. Tickets to the 2018 Pro Bowl game are on sale now at ProBowl.com.

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ESPN Wide World of Sports will open a new multi-use sports and entertainment venue in 2018. It will seat more than 8,000 guests and have the ability to host six regulation basketball courts, six regulation volleyball courts or concert configurations. For cheer and dance events, it will accommodate performance and warm-up space and include a flexible design for one large competition space that can be set up for as many as four competition areas. Additional areas can be tailored for warm-up and practice, along with areas for judges and officials. There will be concessions throughout the building, and additional box office and entry to the complex.

The Villanova Wildcats – the 2016 NCAA men’s basketball national champions – headline the field of teams set to participate in the 2018 AdvoCare Invitational tournament at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.

The Wildcats will be joined by Alabama-Birmingham, the College of Charleston, Florida State, Louisiana State, Memphis and Oklahoma State. The eighth and final team will be announced at a later date.

The 2018 tournament will showcase the Wildcats, led by head coach Jay Wright, as well as mark the return of two other teams who are former AdvoCare Invitational champions.  The Florida State Seminoles were crowned tournament champions in 2009 after defeating Marquette 57-56 while the Memphis Tigers left town with the 2013 championship trophy in hand following a 73-68 win over Oklahoma State.

Villanova – currently ranked No. 4 in this week’s Associated Press poll – claimed its second national championship in 2016 (won its first in 1985) in thrilling fashion over No. 1 seed North Carolina, 77-74, at NRG Stadium in Houston when junior forward Kris Jenkins sank a buzzer-beating three-point shot as time expired to knock off the Tar Heels.

The shot was the first buzzer-beater on a three-pointer in national championship history.

The AdvoCare Invitational tournament’s previous winners include West Virginia (2017), Gonzaga (2016, 2012, 2008), Xavier (2015), Kansas (2014), Memphis (2013), Dayton (2011), Notre Dame (2010), Florida State (2009), NC State (2007) and Arkansas (2006).

The three-day tournament – which tips off Thanksgiving Weekend (Nov. 22-25, 2018) — is regarded by basketball experts as one of the best early season tune-ups for college hoops.

The Atlanta Braves will return to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World® Resort for Spring Training from February 26-March 24, 2018.

Guests can enjoy the thrill of Major League Baseball combined with a family friendly Disney atmosphere as they watch the Braves take on the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals and more.

Disney character appearances and special moments such as kids running the bases after every game are just some of the many in-game entertainment opportunities that make Braves spring training at Disney a grand slam.

Spring training game tickets go on sale Dec. 11 at www.espnwwos.com/braves, through Ticketmaster outlets 800-745-3000 and at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Box Office.