Youth Baseball Coming Back to Walt Disney World

 by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 15, 2024

 

The All-Star Game is this week, so it’s a natural time to hit on some baseball news. Last Thursday, Ripken Baseball and Walt Disney World announced that the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex would host four week-long tournaments each year during the summers of 2025 and 2026.

In a statement, Ripken Baseball noted, “The Ripken Experience at Walt Disney World Resort will be a unique opportunity for teams from around the country to compete in world-class tournaments for ages 10U to 16U. The games will take place across 11 ballfields – six youth-sized baseball fields equipped with lights for night games and five professional-sized fields, including The Stadium at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, a venue that has hosted Major League Baseball spring training games and regular-season games for over two decades.”

 

Cal Ripken, Jr. said, “We are excited to collaborate with the iconic and globally recognized Walt Disney World to deliver unforgettable experiences for teams and their families.”

 

It also was noted: “Teams will enjoy a spectacular opening ceremony and have leisure time to explore Disney parks, where they can experience classic attractions as well as exciting new ones.”

 

The dates for 2025 have been announced: 

 

Week 1: June 8-13. 

Week 2: June 15-20.

Week 3: June 22-27.

Week 4: July 6-11.

 

For more information about Ripken Baseball, go to www.ripkenbaseball.com. Ripken Baseball has worked with Disney World in the past.

The Stadium at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has a rich baseball history, including hosting Spring Training for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023; serving as the Spring Training home of the Atlanta Braves for 22 seasons, most recently in 2019; and the Rays played six regular-season games there during 2007 and 2008.

 

Count me among those who would like to see the ESPN Complex, once again, serve as a Spring Training home to a Major League club. But I’ll take whatever baseball I can, and this Ripken-Disney World partnership looks like a great experience for young players and their families.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, the Alliance of Saint Michael novels, and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

The Disney Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more.

 

Never miss any new book by Ray Keating by joining the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship with Ray Keating at

https://www.patreon.com/pastorstephengrantfellowship.

 

Various books by Ray Keating…

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. There are 19 books in the series now.

 

• The Alliance of Saint Michael novels – Cathedral and Subversion – are at Amazon. 

 

• Order The Weekly Economist III: Another 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist, The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist, and The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist at Amazon.com.

 

• Signed editions of Ray’s books are at www.raykeatingbooksandmore.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

Disney World Hosts the Tampa Bay Rays

 by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

February 15, 2023

 

Pitchers and catchers have their first workout of Spring Training today (February 15) at Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The first full squad workouts will be on Monday, February 20.

 

Morning workouts begin at 9:30, with fans having free access to the backfields (though the stadium will not be open to fans), according to the Tampa Bay Times.

 

Courtesy of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex website

The Major League Spring Training camp for the Rays will be at the Disney World facility until March 1. It will then shift to the Rays regular season stadium, Tropicana Field. However, the team’s Minor League Spring Training will remain at the ESPN Complex through March.

 

For good measure, the Rays first home Spring Training game will be against the New York Yankees on February 28 at Disney. But that will be the only preseason game at the ESPN Complex.

 

After being damaged by Hurricane Ian, the Rays’ normal Spring Training home, the Charlotte Sports Park complex, will not be available until next year.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, and the Alliance of Saint Michael novels; and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right? 

 

Consider books by Ray Keating…

 

• The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks at RayKeatingOnline.com or paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions at Amazon.com.

 

• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel. Signed paperbacks and/or paperbacks, hardcovers and the Kindle edition at Amazon. 

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. The latest in the series is Persecution: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel. Get the signed books here, or paperbacks and Kindle editions right here.

 

• The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement, inspiration and consolation from the Christian faith.

 

• Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  –  signed books  or at  Amazon.

 

•  Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know is available at  Amazon  in paperback or for the Kindle edition, and signed books at  www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training 2023 Starts at Walt Disney World

 by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 21, 2022

 

It might be the first day of winter, but there’s never a bad time to talk baseball. And baseball news is in the air relating to Walt Disney World.

 

The Tampa Bay Rays have announced that due to damage related to Hurricane Ian, the Charlotte Sports Park complex will not be available for Spring Training 2023. As a result, the team will open spring training at Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Courtesy of the ESPN Wide World of Sports website

Pitchers and catchers are set to report for the Rays on February 14, as well as early arrivals scheduled for February 6. Spring training workouts will take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, along with the first spring training game on February 28. 

 

The Major League Spring Training camp will be at Disney World until March 1, after which it will be moved to the Rays regular season stadium, Tropicana Field.

 

However, the Rays Minor League Spring Training camp will remain at the ESPN complex.

 

The Rays and Charlotte County plan to move the Rays Spring Training activities back to the Charlotte Sports Park complex in 2024.

 

The Disney complex had served as the Spring Training home of the Atlanta Braves for 22 seasons, most recently in 2019. For good measure, the Rays have played there in the past, as noted in the team’s statement: “The Rays also have history at ‘The Stadium,’ formerly known as Champion Stadium. Tampa Bay previously hosted six regular-season games at the Disney ballpark, sweeping a series against the Rangers in May 2007 then winning three games against the Blue Jays in April 2008.”

 

Faron Kelley, vice president of Disney Sports, said, “We are thrilled to be bringing Major League Baseball back to Walt Disney World Resort. We’re always looking for top-tier events, like the Rays’ Spring Training, for our guests to enjoy at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.”

 

On a personal note, as a baseball fan who has absolutely no appreciation for the warehouse-like, soulless Tropicana Field, it’s a shame that the Rays full Spring Training schedule in 2023 won’t be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, and the Alliance of Saint Michael novels; and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right? 

 

Consider books by Ray Keating…

 

• The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks at RayKeatingOnline.com or paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions at Amazon.com.

 

• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel. Signed paperbacks and/or paperbacks, hardcovers and the Kindle edition at Amazon. 

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. The latest in the series is Persecution: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel. Get the signed books here, or paperbacks and Kindle editions right here.

 

• The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement, inspiration and consolation from the Christian faith.

 

• Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  –  signed books  or at  Amazon.

 

•  Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know is available at  Amazon  in paperback or for the Kindle edition, and signed books at  www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

Walt Disney and Baseball

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #185: Walt Disney Saw Value in Baseball – There are lessons to be learned from baseball, and as a great fan of the game, Walt understood this well.

 

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Walt Disney, Storyteller, Loved Baseball

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #120: Not Surprising That Walt Disney Loved Baseball – Walt Disney loved baseball and so should all storytellers.

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Walt Disney and Our National Pastime

by Ray Keating

Feature Story

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 25, 2020

Baseball is finally back. And as previously baseball-starved fans enjoy watching games this first weekend of the season, it’s also an ideal time to reflect upon Walt Disney, his love of the game, and how he and his company have been involved in our national pastime over the years.

It’s not surprising that Walt enjoyed baseball, since he also loved this country, and there’s perhaps nothing more American than baseball. As explained in the following D23 video, Walt was a big fan, and sometimes joined his employees in games at Disney’s Hyperion Studios. An athletic field, available for baseball, also was set up when Disney moved to its new studio in Burbank in 1940.

Walt once said, “Baseball is a great teacher of an important secret of living: the giving and taking in the group, the development of qualities and behavior that will stand us in good stead through life pursuits both personal and professional.”

But there has been even more to the Disney-baseball relationship. 

Before the Dodgers and Giants arrived in California in 1958, the Pacific Coast League (PCL) from 1903 to 1957 was about as close to the big leagues as the Golden State could get. The PCL served up high-quality baseball. In fact, there were efforts to make it a third major league, though that ultimately failed.

One of the PCL teams was the Hollywood Stars. From 1926 to 1935, the Stars played at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, home to the PCL’s Los Angeles Angels. When unable to afford the Wrigley Field rent charged by the Angels’ owner, the Stars went south to become the original San Diego Padres. But in 1938, the Mission Reds in San Francisco moved and became the new Hollywood Stars. 

Walt not only was a fan and season ticket holder of the Stars, but he contributed funds to help build the team a new ballpark. When the team owners, including Robert H. Cobb, owner of the Brown Derby restaurants, sought funds to build a stadium, they formed the Hollywood Baseball Association, and sold ownership shares to prominent local leaders and celebrities. Disney became a part owner in the ballclub, along with folks like Cecil B. DeMille, Gary Cooper, Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, George Burns, Jack Benny, Barbara Stanwyck, and Harry Warner. Gilmore Field opened on May 2, 1939, and the Hollywood Stars were billed as “the Hollywood Stars baseball team, owned by the Hollywood stars.”

Years later, the arrival of the Dodgers from Brooklyn actually got Walt involved in Major League Baseball. As reported by WalterOMalley.com, Disneyland influenced Dodger Stadium in a few ways, including where it was located:

The influence of Disneyland for its layout, parking facilities, trams and high level of customer service did not go unnoticed by O’Malley, who had his executives visit the Magic Kingdom in Anaheim and take notes. O’Malley had corresponded with Walt Disney and asked if he might have some suggestions as he built his new ballpark. Interestingly, Disney had rejected the idea of using the same unattractive Chavez Ravine land for a potential Disneyland site (quite possibly because of the massive amounts of earth that would have to be moved).

The Los Angeles Angels started play in the American League in 1961. Walt Disney, friend of team owner Gene Autry, served on the team’s board of directors from 1960 until his death in 1966. Walt also played a part in the team’s moving into a new stadium in 1966 located in Anaheim, not far from Disneyland.

More than two decades later, the Angels became part of the Disney family. As DisneyBizJournal.com noted in an April 1, 2019, story:

Michael Eisner and Disney acquired a stake in the Angels in 1996, and then purchased the entire team in 1998 from the Autry family. Autry passed away in 1998.

As for the ballpark, Angel Stadium underwent a $118 million renovation for Opening Day 1998, with Disney picking up $78 million of the tab, and the taxpayers covering the rest. And Walt Disney Imagineering was involved in the process. One can see the Disney touch with one particular part of the renovation, as described by Ballparks of Baseball.com: “In left centerfield is the ‘California spectacular’ where geysers erupt and a stream cascades down a mountainside covered with real trees and artificial rocks.” Very Disney.

However, while Disney magic was evident on the field, with the ultimate success of the 2002 World Series victory, the financial aspects of owning a baseball team didn’t add up for Disney. The team was sold in 2003 to Arturo Moreno, an Arizona businessman who made his money in the outdoor advertising industry.

By the way, pro baseball has been played in Disney’s Florida home as well. The Atlanta Braves spent spring training each season at The Stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Walt Disney World from 1998 to 2019. For good measure, the minor league Gulf Coast League Braves played at the ballpark from 1997 to 2007. Also, the Orlando Rays, another minor league team, called the ballpark home from 2000 to 2003.

Yes, Walt loved baseball, and the link between the game and his company has persisted.

I have no doubt that if Walt were alive today, he’d be quite pleased to see the return of baseball.

__________

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Also, get the paperback or Kindle edition of Ray Keating’s new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York.

Interview with Actor, Author and Disney Expert Chris Lucas on Disney and More!

by Ray Keating

Interview

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 8, 2020

On his PRESS CLUB C Podcast, Ray Keating has the good fortune to interview Chris Lucas, and they talk about several interesting topics, including the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on The Walt Disney Company. 

Chris’s outlook on the theme parks, movies, Disney+, ESPN and more is well-reasoned, well-informed. He makes the case that Disney is likely to handle matters cautiously in coming months. 

Chris also discusses his one-man Walt Disney show, and his book Top Disney: 100 Top Ten Lists of the Best of Disney, From the Man to the Mouse and Beyond. 

In addition, Chris talks about the story of his father, Ed Lucas, a blind Emmy-winning baseball broadcaster, and that Hall-of-Famer Phil Rizzuto became Ed’s mentor, and Ed and Chris working with Derek Jeter and his publishing company.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution (now available at a deep discount) and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Get the paperback or Kindle edition of Ray Keating’s new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York.

PRESS CLUB C Podcast with Ray Keating – Episode #5: Interview with Thom Brennaman – TV Play-by-Play for the Cincinnati Reds & FOX NFL

Ray Keating once again upgrades the podcast with a great guest. Thom Brennaman, Cincinnati Reds play-by-play TV announcer and play-by-play announcer for the NFL on FOX, is that special guest. 

Thom and Ray talk about Brennaman’s broadcast experience and some of his fellow Reds announcers; the NFL’s noteworthy accomplishments with this year’s draft; NASCAR getting out front on re-opening among major sports; what lies ahead for baseball; and what the Reds were up to in the offseason and what the team promises to look like whenever the first pitch is tossed out for MLB season. Thom also plays “Tell Me Your Favorites” and talks about some matters beyond sports. Despite being a ridiculous Reds fan, Ray manages to act professionally. Enjoy the conversation!

Click here or on the graphic above.

Major League Baseball in the Mix to Buy Regional Sports Networks from Disney

by Ray Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 18, 2019

When Disney bought assets from Fox for $71.3 billion, part of the deal was 22 regional sports networks (RSNs). However, the government said Disney couldn’t keep those networks. The forthcoming sale of these RSNs means that Disney is likely to recoup some $13.5 billion of its Fox purchase price, and Major League Baseball (MLB) might be in on picking up 21 of those RSNs.

The U.S. Department of Justice decided that its regulatory approval of the Disney-Fox deal was contingent upon Disney selling the RSNs. The Justice Department apparently worried, given Disney’s ownership of ESPN, about some kind of monopolization of sports broadcasting. Given the dynamism of the video marketplace, this government mandate was firmly rooted in economic ignorance, but that’s a point left to be explored in another piece.

One of the networks – the YES Network – reportedly has been secured by Amazon in collaboration with the Sinclair Broadcast Group. This is the network that carries the Yankees, and the team is part owner. This sale is said to be for $3.5 billion.

There are three bidders that have reached the final round for the remaining 21 RSNs – Ice Cube’s Big3, Sinclair, and Liberty Media Corp., which is teaming up with MLB. Liberty owns the Atlanta Braves and the Formula One Group. 

It’s widely reported that this package will be sold for approximately $10 billion. Interestingly, this is down notably from assorted estimates for a sale price in the $20-$22 billion neighborhood. 

Arguably, the most interesting outcome would see MLB in on the ownership for these 21 RSNs, and what that might mean for expanding opportunities for broadcasting baseball.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels, with three books - Reagan Country: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, Heroes and Villains: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story and Shifting Sands: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story – published in 2018. In addition, the second edition of Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel was published in January 2019. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Disney, Baseball and the L.A. Angels

by Ray Keating

News/Commentary

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 1, 2019

The home opener this season for the L.A. Angels is on April 4. So, what does this have to do with Disney? Well, here’s a little Disney baseball history.

The relationship between the Walt Disney Company and the Los Angeles Angels goes far beyond the 1994 movie “Angels in the Outfield” – thankfully. 

For example, as noted in the following advertisement (courtesy of Yesterland.com), the greatest family deal ever (!) was offered for April 15, 1967. For a mere $5, you could have enjoyed an Angels-Disneyland doubleheader. You would head to the 3:00 PM game versus the Cleveland Indians, and then enjoy a private party at Disneyland from 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM that night. Sign me up!

But that’s just a fun footnote. Here’s the big question: Who owned the Angels when they won their only World Series in 2002? That’s right. Disney owned the team when the Angels beat the San Francisco Giants in seven games.

The Angels had been owned by Gene Autry – actor, cowboy and friend of Walt Disney – from the time it was an expansion team in 1961. Michael Eisner and Disney acquired a stake in the Angels in 1996, and then purchased the entire team in 1998 from the Autry family. Autry passed away in 1998.

As for the ballpark, Angel Stadium underwent a $118 million renovation for Opening Day 1998, with Disney picking up $78 million of the tab, and the taxpayers covering the rest. And Walt Disney Imagineering was involved in the process. One can see the Disney touch with one particular part of the renovation, as described by Ballparks ofBaseball.com: “In left centerfield is the ‘California spectacular’ where geysers erupt and a stream cascades down a mountainside covered with real trees and artificial rocks.” Very Disney.

However, while Disney magic was evident on the field, with the ultimate success of the 2002 World Series victory, the financial aspects of owning a baseball team didn’t add up for Disney. The team was sold in 2003 to Arturo Moreno, an Arizona businessman who made his money in the outdoor advertising industry.

So, if you happen to catch the Angels at the ballpark this year, keep in mind that the team was officially part of the Disney family for a few years, and that the two businesses have had a long relationship given that they’re Anaheim neighbors.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels, with three books - Reagan Country: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, Heroes and Villains: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Storyand Shifting Sands: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story– published in 2018. In addition, the second edition of Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novelwas published in January 2019. He can be contacted at raykeating@keatingreports.com.