by Beth Keating
News
DisneyBizJournal.com
August 12, 2023
Most visitors to Disney World never step foot on the sprawling facility known as the “ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.” Well, basketball fans will have a reason to do so this Thanksgiving.
Despite the many fields and amenities located at the complex, unless your team is down in Orlando participating in league play or a competition such as cheerleading, softball, soccer, or dance, you likely haven’t even driven past the gates. Many guests don’t know the place exists. Yet there are 11 baseball and softball diamonds, 17 outdoor fields, and more than 700,000 square feet of playing space, and even a few dining options.
But if you are a basketball fan, or just want to check out the offerings at the ESPN complex, this may be your chance. First round matchups have been announced for the 2023 ESPN Events Invitational, and the showdowns will be taking place November 23-26, 2023, at the ESPN Complex at Disney World. So, if you’ll be in the Orlando area and are craving a little basketball with your Thanksgiving meal, tickets are on sale now through ESPNEvents.com, and you can join your fellow sports-fans at the 5,000-seat State Farm Field House Thanksgiving weekend.
This year features four games on Thanksgiving Day: Penn State vs Texas A&M; Florida Atlantic vs Butler; Iowa State vs Virginia Commonwealth; and Boise State vs Virginia Tech. (Disney has pointed out that “six of the teams in this year’s field played in the 2023 NCAA Tournament including FAU which made it all the way to the Final Four for the first time in the school’s history.”)
The Thanksgiving winners will move on to the semifinals the following day, Friday, November 24, with the championship game taking place Sunday, November 26.
Available tickets include both single-session tickets and all-tournament tickets. which get you into every game. Fans who purchase “Early Bird” all-tournament tickets by September 8 will receive a $15 discount. Additional single-session tickets will go on sale on October 2.
And as if claiming title to the matchups wasn’t enough, the winners will also get to pose with Mickey Mouse, alongside the ESPN Events Invitational trophy.
Need more information? Go to ESPNEvents.com.
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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.
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