NBA Experience at Disney Springs

Bocabear

Well-Known Member
Yeah, somewhat, though on a bigger scale. Admittedly I only made it to the Atlanta one, but I remember being underwhelmed by the offerings in the game area (like, it was a bunch of the basketball hoops you see in any arcade, some of those small bowling alleys, etc.). And I didn't think they all closed due to them not making money/having people visit (for example, all I can find on the Downtown Disney closure was it was done to build a hotel). I guess I'm thinking more along the lines of having things like batting cages, those golf walls (whatever they are called), things like that to go along with some video games. Special offerings like DisneyQuest had along with the normal games. I don't know, I feel like sports are kind of underserved at Disney considering all the sports groups that come through there, and appealing to a lot more than one sport would help a ton.
Don't they have a whole World Of Sports campus on property that serves only sports teams and such? Plus All Star Sports for budget hotel accommodations. There are plenty of Sports and sports themed things on property.... I feel like sports eat up the majority of everything in the world, Having a theme park and resorts and not having sports shoved completely down my throat is a plus...
 

LSLS

Well-Known Member
Don't they have a whole World Of Sports campus on property that serves only sports teams and such? Plus All Star Sports for budget hotel accommodations. There are plenty of Sports and sports themed things on property.... I feel like sports eat up the majority of everything in the world, Having a theme park and resorts and not having sports shoved completely down my throat is a plus...
Wide world of sports is great for running events at, but it's not a place you can go and just hang out or catch a game. I'm talking about a place to go watch a game, just play around, etc. Like you said, it's the majority of things in the world. I would think having a place sports fans can come together would make sense. If you honestly think a building and sports bar is having it shoved completely down your throat, then I'll just move on. And this from someone who legit only watches 2 sports (neither of which would have any focus here).
 

UNCgolf

Well-Known Member
Wide world of sports is great for running events at, but it's not a place you can go and just hang out or catch a game. I'm talking about a place to go watch a game, just play around, etc. Like you said, it's the majority of things in the world. I would think having a place sports fans can come together would make sense. If you honestly think a building and sports bar is having it shoved completely down your throat, then I'll just move on. And this from someone who legit only watches 2 sports (neither of which would have any focus here).

When Wide World of Sports was first built, it was intended to function as something like that. It had activities etc. but I think they gave up on that a long time ago.
 

networkpro

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
Yes
I speculated that if the ESPN Zone concept gets revived in this building it would need to come with a sportsbook component to make money. That would need state approval. Given how the state and Disney are playing with each other right now, that’s not happening.

An executive team that sees this giant unused building and needing a creative win would probably want to look at something like the Vegas Omega Mart as a launching pad. A unique concept that is an interactive indoor experience where people can buy a ticket and merchandise tied directly to the experience.

Kind of ironic after so many years of Disney-paid lobbyist groups like Voters in Charge and No Casinos in Florida ...working together to a gambling amendment on the 2018 ballot that could basically freeze casino gambling.

Can they be both at the same time?
 

Lilofan

Well-Known Member
Wide world of sports is great for running events at, but it's not a place you can go and just hang out or catch a game. I'm talking about a place to go watch a game, just play around, etc. Like you said, it's the majority of things in the world. I would think having a place sports fans can come together would make sense. If you honestly think a building and sports bar is having it shoved completely down your throat, then I'll just move on. And this from someone who legit only watches 2 sports (neither of which would have any focus here).
Back in the day it was nice to see a Braves spring training game in March at ESPN.
 

Bocabear

Well-Known Member
Years ago there was Boardwalk and Baseball... where you could ride a rollercoaster and watch a baseball game... It was a re-theme of Circus World...they both failed. Sports Fans should go see a game then and not go to Walt Disney World... Sports and sports bars are everywhere... It is nice to go to WDW and be able to eat at a restaurant that doesn't have a sports theme or a game blaring on 25 TV sets in the dining room....
Incidentally, City Pour House is still open as a Sports Bar... and the Sports attraction yet again failed.
 

Comped

Well-Known Member
When Wide World of Sports was first built, it was intended to function as something like that. It had activities etc. but I think they gave up on that a long time ago.
It, in the words of someone involved in it I knew "was supposed to be the 5th gate". Not quite!
Kind of ironic after so many years of Disney-paid lobbyist groups like Voters in Charge and No Casinos in Florida ...working together to a gambling amendment on the 2018 ballot that could basically freeze casino gambling.

Can they be both at the same time?
Disney has now realized that they need to flipto turn ESPN back into a moneymaker. No longer can they claim being anti-gambling is the smart play - ESPN Bet will result in Disney getting like 10-15% of Penn Entertainment, a major casino operator throughout the US. So they'll make money if they decide to flip out of their de facto alliance with Hard Rock (who wants to preserve their natural monopoly at all costs - despite the Governor taking a ton of money from Vegas casino companies to get reelected) to add a sportsbook on property. (Then again, I hear that Universal may want to go even further, but I have yet to get that substantiated.) Gran Destino looks like the Bellagio after all...
 

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
Wide world of sports is great for running events at, but it's not a place you can go and just hang out or catch a game. I'm talking about a place to go watch a game, just play around, etc. Like you said, it's the majority of things in the world. I would think having a place sports fans can come together would make sense. If you honestly think a building and sports bar is having it shoved completely down your throat, then I'll just move on. And this from someone who legit only watches 2 sports (neither of which would have any focus here).
They have moved away from sports in wdw…replacing former venues with Tupperware consignment shops and niche boutique bakeries
When Wide World of Sports was first built, it was intended to function as something like that. It had activities etc. but I think they gave up on that a long time ago.
A very long time ago…they have de-emphasized sports during emperor shorts reign…
Except the nba thing…which was probably in the contract and Bob signed a bad deal…which can never be admitted outloud.
It hasn't stopped being a money-maker.
Down 29% subscribers from its peak and continues to gain momentum downward
 

ChrisFL

Premium Member
Interesting...what the NBA experience could have had if they (apparently) didn't spend their entire budget on demolishing and rebuilding a building

 

Disstevefan1

Well-Known Member
Interesting permit today. Contractor is Adena which does a lot of big projects for Disney, for example the Epcot hub work. Permit does not have an explicit expiration so it defaults to one year.

1486 E BUENA VISTA DR(WEST SIDE NBA EXPERIENCE) - General Construction/Demo
I am very happy to see this. The NBA experience was a total Iger mistake from the first moment. Everyone (except Iger) knew this was a mistake from the first moment.

The NBA Experience was just another example if Iger pushing is personal agenda on to TWDC with no thought of how it effects the company.

The good thing is, the failed NBA Experience was not a significant blow to TWDC, as its just another failed tenant of Disney Springs.

This failure did however reduce the guest experience….. Oh, wait, Iger does not care about that, never mind.
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom