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Atlanta Braves Champion Stadium christening
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Chipper Jones
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Barry Larkin
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Chipper Jones
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Fireworks Over Champion Stadium
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June 2007
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July-August 2003
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March 16, 1997
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February 1, 2000
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October 1997
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July-August 2002
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March 2006
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February 25, 2010
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September 3, 2010
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October 16, 2009
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September 10, 2009
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February 11, 2012
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May 2007
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July 11, 2010
- On March 28, 1997, the Wide World of Sports Complex was formally opened as the Braves hosted the Cincinnati Reds in front of a sellout crowd of more than 10,000. Atlanta's first baseman Fred McGriff hit the first homerun at Disney, while Reds outfielder Deion Sanders recorded the first hit, stolen base and run in the history of the sports complex. Chipper Jones, was an up and coming star on the team that day; he recently announced that the 2012 season will be his last in major league baseball.
- On March 28, 1997, the Wide World of Sports Complex was formally opened as the Braves hosted the Cincinnati Reds in front of a sellout crowd of more than 10,000. Atlanta's first baseman Fred McGriff hit the first homerun at Disney, while Reds outfielder Deion Sanders recorded the first hit, stolen base and run in the history of the sports complex. Chipper Jones, was an up and coming star on the team that day; he recently announced that the 2012 season will be his last in major league baseball.
- On March 28, 1997, the Wide World of Sports Complex was formally opened as the Braves hosted the Cincinnati Reds in front of a sellout crowd of more than 10,000. Atlanta's first baseman Fred McGriff hit the first homerun at Disney, while Reds outfielder Deion Sanders recorded the first hit, stolen base and run in the history of the sports complex. Barry Larkin, of the Reds, was in the lineup that day. He's scheduled to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame later this year.
- On March 28, 1997, the Wide World of Sports Complex was formally opened as the Braves hosted the Cincinnati Reds in front of a sellout crowd of more than 10,000. Atlanta's first baseman Fred McGriff hit the first homerun at Disney, while Reds outfielder Deion Sanders recorded the first hit, stolen base and run in the history of the sports complex. Chipper Jones, was an up and coming star on the team that day; he recently announced that the 2012 season will be his last in major league baseball.
- On March 28, 1997, the Wide World of Sports Complex was formally opened as the Braves hosted the Cincinnati Reds in front of a sellout crowd of more than 10,000. Atlanta's first baseman Fred McGriff hit the first homerun at Disney, while Reds outfielder Deion Sanders recorded the first hit, stolen base and run in the history of the sports complex.
- NBA Pre-Draft Camp is held Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in 2007 and 2008. Potential top draft picks - including future MVP Derrick Rose - are involved in drills, games and physical exams under the watchful eye of representatives from virtually every NBA team and the league office. Among the well-known names were Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Larry Brown.
- AAU Boys Basketball Super Showcase and National Championships return to Disney and feature a host of future NBA stars, including preps Al Jefferson, Glen "Big Baby" Davis and O.J. Mayo (pictured). Coaches attending include Roy Williams (North Carolina), Bill Self (Kansas), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Mark Few (Gonzaga) and Billy Donovan (Florida).
- PGA TOUR mega-star Tiger Woods conducts his first-ever Tiger Woods Youth Foundation golf clinic at Disney's Wide World of Sports as one of a handful of events that took place just prior to the Grand Opening of the complex. During the event, Tiger provides instruction to 150 junior golfers from Tampa and Orlando. He also receives the key to the City of Orlando from Mayor Glenda Hood.
- National Consortium for Academics & Sports (NCAS) inducts Muhammad Ali into its Hall of Fame. Celebration at the sports complex includes special ceremony renaming Victory Way to Muhammad Ali Way for the day. Legendary sports journalist Dick Schaap serves as Master of Ceremonies.
- Orlando Magic Training Camp brings Coach Chuck Daly's squad to Disney's fieldhouse prior to the Magic franchise's ninth season. Penny Hardaway, Nick Anderson, and Horace Grant highlighted the Magic roster. The Magic returned to train at Disney in 2003.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp marks the first NFL preseason training camp in the history of Disney's Wide World of Sports. The Bucs' new era under first-year head coach Jon Gruden started at Disney and ended in January 2003 with a Super Bowl title in San Diego. The Bucs conducted joint practices on Aug. 9-10 with the Miami Dolphins (incl. Ricky Williams, Jason Taylor and Zack Thomas) in the outfield of the baseball stadium. The joint practices attracted a stadium record 12,550 fans.
- The inaugural World Baseball Classic, a 16-team tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), featured many of the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories for the first time ever. Disney's Wide World of Sports hosted one of four Round 1 pools (six games). The Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Australia and Italy participated at Disney. Players included David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, Alfonso Soriano, Mike Piazza and Andruw Jones.
- A host of sports' biggest stars help kick off the opening of the newly re-imagined ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. More than 50 athletes and ESPN personalities, including Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson, NFL all-pro Chad Ochocinco, softball star Jennie Finch and former LPGA great Annika Sorenstam, walk the "green carpet," and attend the special grand opening event that also included a Harlem Globetrotters game, MLS exhibition game and a special Atlanta Braves evening practice. Special guests also included Florida governor Charlie Crist, ESPN executive chairman George Bodenheimer and Disney Sports Senior Vice President Ken Potrock.
- Disney Sports launches runDisney, which encompasses all six current Disney marathon and half marathon weekends. The series creates a unique series of destination races that offer one-of-a-kind running experiences over each weekend. The runDisney series also names former Olympian and endurance expert Jeff Galloway as the official training consultant.
- The ESPN Innovation Lab officially opened at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. The lab is used to develop new products for television broadcasts and is the official 3D broadcast development hub for ESPN.
- Soccer player Lionel Messi kicks off a game with Mickey Mouse.
- First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a fitness activity with local children at the Magic of Healthy Living event at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The event celebrated the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative and recognized Disney's efforts to promote healthier lifestyles among kids and families.
- The Tampa Bay Rays hosted the first of two regular-season series at Champion Stadium (the second one was in 2008). In 2008, the Rays swept the Toronto Blue Jays (6-4, 5-3, 5-3) to improve their record at Disney to 6-0 and went on to reach the team's first-ever World Series.
- On the heels of recruiting Lebron James and Chris Bosh to join him in South Florida, Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade visits the complex, and plays in a special 3-on-3 basketball game with AAU girls' basketball players and Mickey Mouse.