Burbank (October 7, 1998) - Disney Regional Entertainment and ESPN announced plans to launch a 42,000-square-foot ESPN Zone in Times Square in the summer of 1999. The sports-themed dining and entertainment facility will be located at 4 Times Square at the northeast corner of 42nd street and Broadway in the development owned by the Durst Organization. ESPN Zone launched its first complex in Baltimore's Inner Harbor this past summer and plans to open a second venue in Chicago in the summer of 1999.

	Artist's rendering of ESPN Zone in Times Square.

"This represents another significant step toward the expansion of ESPN Zone," said Disney Regional Entertainment President Art Levitt. "We are thrilled with the success of our first ESPN Zone in Baltimore and anticipate that New York sports fans and visitors from around the world will embrace this breakthrough entertainment concept."

"As the Sports Capital of the World, I can think of no better place to open the ESPN Zone than in Times Square -- the Crossroads of the World," said Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. "I want to thank the Disney organization for its continued investment in New York City and for making Times Square a place that New Yorkers and visitors alike can visit once again."

"ESPN on Broadway -- my mother would have been so proud -- as am I, on behalf of everyone in our company," said Steve Bornstein, ESPN President and CEO and President, ABC Sports. "We look forward to providing a terrific experience for fans and to creating a potential new venue for ESPN and ABC Sports telecasts from New York."

The New York ESPN Zone has been designed on three floors to distinguish the three individual, yet integrated components of the entertainment complex: