Disney World building new cheerleading and dance venue at ESPN Wide World of Sports

The cheerleading and dance competition business has become so good at Disney World that the ESPN Wide World of Sports is creating a new venue specifically for those competitions, Disney has announced.

Disney publicity photo

The new complex will include a flexible design for one large competition space that can be set up for as many as four competition areas. Additional areas are being tailored for warm up and practice, along with areas for judges and officials.

The venue will have seating for over 8,000 people. The new multi-use sports and entertainment venue will also have the ability to host six regulation basketball courts, six regulation volleyball courts or concert configurations. There will be concessions throughout the building, and an additional box office and entry to the complex.

“As our sports business continues to grow, we’re thrilled to work alongside Varsity Spirit to create a sporting and entertainment venue that will not only complement our existing venues, but will be a model for cheerleading and dance team competitions,” Maribeth Bisienere, senior vice president of ESPN Wide World of Sports, said in a news release.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and Varsity Spirit will continue to host the National High School Cheerleading Championships. This event draws more than 650 teams from more than 30 states and is the only National Championship endorsed by the National Federation of State High School Associations. The complex hosts six cheer and dance team events annually.

Construction should being in February 2016 and should be complete by mid-2017.