Plans for the venue were revealed in public documents last month, but the facility's purpose was not known until today's announcement. Construction will begin immediately for a planned opening sometime in the middle of next year. The facility will be able to accommodate up to 8,000 spectators and will include space for practice, warm-up and competitions.
The new venue allows Disney to create a single home for cheer and dance events, reducing the need to host them in other venues such as the Indiana Jones stunt theater and various soundstages at Disney's Hollywood Studios, where such events have been held in the past. Cheer and dance events have become another source of big business for Walt Disney World, as groups from all over the country book trips to the resort, thanks to the increasing number of events that Disney hosts. And starting next year, with a large, dedicated facility for cheer and dance events, Disney World will be able to host even more.
"As our sports business continues to grow, we're thrilled to work alongside Varsity Spirit to create a sporting and entertainment venue that will not only complement our existing venues, but will be a model for cheerleading and dance team competitions," Maribeth Bisienere, senior vice president of ESPN Wide World of Sports, said in a statement.
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I have to give credit where credit is due, though. At 9:00 every night, it all went silent. I don't know if its Disney's rules, or just those groups' chaperones, but I would always be worried that my kids wouldn't be able to get to sleep when the time came, and instead it all calmed down just in time for bedtime.
So, with the exception of a few headaches on the buses, when they would decide to clap, giggle and sing (when I would rather just sit in silence on my return back to the hotel), I can't say they caused me any actual problems. Impressive considering the number of them.
Youth sports, cheerleading, runs, and music sells lots of hotel rooms, food, and a few park tickets. They have 10,000 value resort rooms during the off season to fill. Thanks to these types and keep their overall occupancy rates above 85%. Youth sports, music, cheerleading are all important activities for kids. It's incredibly good business.
And don't even get me started on the Brazilian tour groups. I have had one too many bad experiences with them at that Walmart on Turkey Lake Road to the point that I refuse to shop there nowadays.
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ESPN Wild World of Sports is hosting the Invictus games too!