RELEASE: Disney and AAU Expand Relationship to Bring More Basketball Championships to Walt Disney World Resort
02/26/2024
Walt Disney World Resort will host all AAU Boys’ Basketball World Championships at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in 2024
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (February 23, 2024) – The nation’s most elite high school basketball talent will be on display at The Most Magical Place On Earth this summer. Walt Disney World Resort will host all AAU Boys’ Basketball World Championships at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in 2024 giving players a chance to compete in world-class facilities in front of fans, college coaches and scouts.
After previously hosting several AAU championship events at Walt Disney World Resort with the rest spread throughout the country, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will become home to all 24 AAU boys' basketball D1 and D2 national title events for ages 7U/1st grade – 19U/12th grade in 2024.
The boys' championship events at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will take place July 4-11, 2024, joining the AAU Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Memorial Day Classic (May 25-27, 2024) which are also played at Disney.
"Since 1997, many of the greatest basketball players in the world have competed in AAU championship events here at Walt Disney World Resort and we're thrilled to continue that legacy," said ESPN Wide World of Sports Vice President Adam Ball. "The elite talent, passion and excitement of AAU championships make these events a 'must-see' for basketball fans and help reaffirm ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex as the nation's premier venue for youth athletes."
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has been the epicenter of AAU basketball since the complex first opened in 1997, providing established tournaments and events for the new facility. Since then, tens of thousands of elite youth athletes have competed in AAU basketball events at the sports complex, including former and current pro basketball stars. In addition, coaches and scouts from every level of college basketball regularly attend the events to recruit the best young talent in the country.
“The AAU has had an incredible relationship with Walt Disney World for nearly 30 years, and we’re eager to continue that relationship well into the future,” said AAU president Jo Mirza. “With Disney’s world-class service and facilities, there’s no better place than ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for amateur athletes to feel like professionals and create lifetime memories.”
The ESPN Wide World of Sports Broadcast Center will showcase the action and the story of the AAU, enhancing the players’ experience while competing at The Most Magical Place On Earth. The high-tech facility creates content for global distribution on ESPN platforms and captures highlights for athletes and their families to enjoy again and again.
About ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, located at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, is the home of Disney Soccer and Disney Spring Training and one of the premier sites for amateur sports in the nation. The complex hosts dozens of events each year and has accommodated 70 different sports featuring athletes from 70 different countries. Designed to provide professional, amateur and youth athletes with experiences synonymous with the names Disney and ESPN, the 220-acre facility features multiple competition venues, including 16 baseball/softball fields; a 9,500-seat stadium; a state-of-the-art indoor arena in addition to two field houses for basketball , volleyball, eSports and other indoor sports; and 17 multi-purpose outdoor fields for soccer, football and field hockey. The complex also contains a professional production center that produces content for the Disney family of networks for global distribution. For more information, visit www.disneysportsnews.com for news releases, photos and videos and www.espnwwos.com for the latest calendar of events.
ABOUT THE AAU
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer sports organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports programs. Founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by nearly 800,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 45 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts. For more information, visit www.aausports.org.
After previously hosting several AAU championship events at Walt Disney World Resort with the rest spread throughout the country, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will become home to all 24 AAU boys' basketball D1 and D2 national title events for ages 7U/1st grade – 19U/12th grade in 2024.
The boys' championship events at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will take place July 4-11, 2024, joining the AAU Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Memorial Day Classic (May 25-27, 2024) which are also played at Disney.
"Since 1997, many of the greatest basketball players in the world have competed in AAU championship events here at Walt Disney World Resort and we're thrilled to continue that legacy," said ESPN Wide World of Sports Vice President Adam Ball. "The elite talent, passion and excitement of AAU championships make these events a 'must-see' for basketball fans and help reaffirm ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex as the nation's premier venue for youth athletes."
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has been the epicenter of AAU basketball since the complex first opened in 1997, providing established tournaments and events for the new facility. Since then, tens of thousands of elite youth athletes have competed in AAU basketball events at the sports complex, including former and current pro basketball stars. In addition, coaches and scouts from every level of college basketball regularly attend the events to recruit the best young talent in the country.
“The AAU has had an incredible relationship with Walt Disney World for nearly 30 years, and we’re eager to continue that relationship well into the future,” said AAU president Jo Mirza. “With Disney’s world-class service and facilities, there’s no better place than ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for amateur athletes to feel like professionals and create lifetime memories.”
The ESPN Wide World of Sports Broadcast Center will showcase the action and the story of the AAU, enhancing the players’ experience while competing at The Most Magical Place On Earth. The high-tech facility creates content for global distribution on ESPN platforms and captures highlights for athletes and their families to enjoy again and again.
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About ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, located at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, is the home of Disney Soccer and Disney Spring Training and one of the premier sites for amateur sports in the nation. The complex hosts dozens of events each year and has accommodated 70 different sports featuring athletes from 70 different countries. Designed to provide professional, amateur and youth athletes with experiences synonymous with the names Disney and ESPN, the 220-acre facility features multiple competition venues, including 16 baseball/softball fields; a 9,500-seat stadium; a state-of-the-art indoor arena in addition to two field houses for basketball , volleyball, eSports and other indoor sports; and 17 multi-purpose outdoor fields for soccer, football and field hockey. The complex also contains a professional production center that produces content for the Disney family of networks for global distribution. For more information, visit www.disneysportsnews.com for news releases, photos and videos and www.espnwwos.com for the latest calendar of events.
ABOUT THE AAU
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer sports organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports programs. Founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by nearly 800,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 45 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts. For more information, visit www.aausports.org.
