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Green Acres -- The complex has 85 acres of the finest Tifway 419
Bermuda sports turf, enough to sod an entire 18-hole golf course.
Even on Rainy Days – Fields are always in playable condition,
thanks to drainage systems that remove 5-7 inches of rainfall per
hour
Laying the Foundation -- 750,000 tons of orange grove sand was imported
and spread throughout the property during the first stage of the
sports complex construction process.
All Wired Up -- With over 26 miles of state-of-the-art electrical
conduit and fibre optics technology, the complex has the capacity
to broadcast four sporting events simultaneously.
Grand
Slam Opening -- In the first official spring training game at their
new ballpark on March 28, 1997, the Atlanta Braves defeated the
Cincinnati Reds 9-7.
Who's on First? -- Two-sport sensation Deion Sanders (of the Reds)
recorded the first hit, stole the first base and scored the first
run, while Braves slugger Fred McGriff (now with the Chicago Cubs)
hit the first home run.
A Cut Above the Rest -- The only double-decker spring training baseball
stadium in Florida, the home of the Atlanta Braves is also the state's
tallest spring training ballpark at 100 feet high.
Not a Bad Seat in the House -- The ballpark seats are the roomiest
in the industry at 21 inches wide -- 80 percent of which are in
prime viewing areas between first and third base.
Buy Me Some Peanuts and Cracker Jacks -- Fans will not miss a single
pitch thanks to a pair of concession stands that face the field
inside the ballpark.
That Old Time Feel -- Reminiscent of 1950s-style architecture, the
ceiling trusses in The Milk House (field house) are 83 feet high
and include no catwalks.
The Wood That Makes it Good -- The Connor Sports Flooring
in The Milk House (field house) uses a state-of-the-art shock system
and consists of two types of environmentally protected hardwood,
both specially imported from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The
permanent surface throughout The Milk House is Type 1 maple wood,
while the main arena parquet floor is a darker Type 3 maple wood.
Pumpin' Iron -- Every athlete at the complex has access to the finest
Hammer Strength equipment in The Milk House's 3,000-square-foot
weight room.
It's a Twister! -- Themed in a storm motif, The Milk House weight
room includes metallic panelling, effect lighting and a state-of-the-art
sound system that uses motion sensors to simulate weather conditions
ranging from a light rain to an intense tropical storm.
Cool as Ice -- the two largest air conditioning units on Walt Disney
World Resort property cool The Milk House.
On the Fast Track -- The double-layer polyurethane surface at the
track and field complex is resilient enough for both training and
high performance competition.
Always Something to See -- Double straight-aways allow sprint and
hurdle races on both sides of the track, while the dual directional
pits and runways allow two competitions to take place at the same
time in each of the field events, regardless of wind direction.
Eyes on the Skies -- Two state-of-the-art Data Tracking Network
weather stations at the complex provide up-to-the-minute information
about storms and other meteorological activity that could affect
play.
Shop 'Til You Drop -- A pair of retail merchandise shops -- D Sports
and Disney's Clubhouse -- are located at the complex. D Sports,
which sits near the main entrance, includes all types of general
sports and Disney character merchandise, while Disney's Clubhouse,
inside the ballpark, offers authentic Major League Baseball uniforms
and other baseball merchandise and memorabilia.
All Star Dining --The All Star Cafe is a sports-themed restaurant
filled with all types of sports memorabilia, photos, baseball mitt-shaped
booths, and large-screen televisions. The restaurant is located
adjacent to the entrance to the sports complex.
Olympic Heroes -- The last two international sports icons to light
the cauldron during the opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympic
Games have visited Disney's Wide World of Sports. Former boxing
heavyweight champion and 1960 gold medallist Muhammad Ali lit the
cauldron in Atlanta in 1996 and visited the sports complex in February
1999 as part of the National Consortium for Academics and Sports
Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. Australian track star Cathy Freeman,
who lit the cauldron in Sydney in 2000 and captured the 400m gold
medal, participated in Disney's Dreamers and Doers in May 2001.
Tiger Tales -- The sports complex played host to the first-ever
Tiger Woods Foundation youth clinic on March 16, 1997, just 12 days
prior to the official grand opening of the 200-acre facility. Woods
hosted a group of 150 junior players (ages 5 to 17) for an instructional
session and a hitting display that left the young fans breathless.
Woods also made an appearance at the All Star Cafe grand opening
party with tennis player Andre Agassi and actor Cuba Gooding Jr.
at the sports complex on March 31, 1998.
Medal Count -- Disney's Wide World of Sports complex annually welcomes
world-class athletes from across the nation and around the globe.
If the sports complex could claim these athletes as its own, it
would have finished eighth among all nations at the 2000 Summer
Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. The 159 Olympians who trained,
competed or visited Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in the
four years prior to the Games earned 19 gold, eight silver and six
bronze medals in Sydney.
Page maintained by Chris Smith
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