The Fan's Corner

with Greg Duff: 03/29/01

Finding heaven at the ESPN Zone

It all started during a business trip to California last week. Following the last day of a conference, I realized the first semifinal game of the men's Eastern Regional was about to tip off, and I just happened to be right next to an ESPN Zone. Since the conference schedule had left little time to check the place out earlier, I figured this would be the perfect time.

There are six ESPN Zones scattered across the country - Anaheim, (where I was) Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C. Two more are planned in Denver and Las Vegas.

Since the game was about to start and a local team ­ Southern California ­ was playing, the place was more crowded than usual for a Thursday afternoon. As a result, the hostess told me there would be a 15-minute wait for a table in the section preferred by most fans. Fortunately, she was way off and a waiter escorted me to my seat.

The Anaheim restaurant is divided into two sections. One side features a family area decorated with numerous TVs and sports memorabilia, but no audio of the games, just music. The other area is more like other sports bars I had visited over the years. Only better. It has three tiers much like a stadium. The top level is a bar with small tables and stools scattered around it. The second level is lined with table and chairs for those planning on staying a while. The lower level is comprised exclusively for what is called a "Zone Throne."

One of these deluxe leather recliners turned out to be my seat. Its amenities include an electric footrest, speakers on both sides of the head rest, a movable table that slid in front of me as I leaned back and a keypad on the armrest that allowed me to choose the audio from one of 13 TV screens.

The TVs were not your friendly living room variety TVs. The first 12 screens must have been 40 inches wide, while the one in the middle was at least 10 feet across. Every variety of sport imaginable was being broadcast on these screens. The first round of the Tournament Players Championship and the women's Nabisco Championship; a preview of the USC-Kentucky basketball game; two spring training games; a BBC show that reviewed the week's highlights in soccer, rugby and cricket; and two versions of SportsCenter.

If my wife thinks I am bad with the TV remote at home, she should have seen me punching the buttons for the audio feeds from all these shows.

If this was not enough information, there was a screen to the left of the TVs showing scores from other games, league standings for the NBA and NHL, and relevant statistics for games in progress. A last piece of information came in the form of the placement, which was more like a mini-sports page recapping the previous days news and notes.

After enjoying an appetizer and a cold beverage or two, it was time to visit the men's room. I felt like I had just entered one of those electronic store commercials. You know the one where the soccer fan has a TV in every nook and cranny of his imaginary abode. Except this was real. Above each urinal was a 4-inch television screen. Should your business require sitting down, never fear. Above each commode was a 12-inch screen suspended from the ceiling.

As for the menu, it had the two things required of a great sports bar: the food was hot and the beer cold.

As I watched the USC Trojans upset Kentucky, I could not help but think if I were hired to design heaven, it would be a lot like the ESPN Zone. Except the beer would be free.

Back to Sports: 03/29/01.