ESPN ZONE Announces NATIONAL ‘SPORTS SPELLING BEE’ Competition To Be Held in Baltimore, May 29th!

In tandem with the Scripps National Spelling Bee, ESPN Zone will debut a spell-off for sports fans on May 29 with the inaugural "Sports Spelling Bee." Spellers will go head-to-head at the Baltimore ESPN Zone spelling the names of local and national sports figures from various eras, including members of the Orioles.

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ESPN ZONE Announces NATIONAL ‘SPORTS SPELLING BEE’ competition: Sports Fans Battle for Title of Spelling Champ at Eight ESPN Zone Locations

BURBANK, Calif. (May 12, 2008) – Sure, you know the number of times Coach K has taken the Blue Devils to the Final Four and that the Pittsburgh Penguins’ legendary #66 led the team to two Stanley Cups, but the real test is whether you can correctly spell Krzyzewski and Lemieux. In a tribute to sports fans with spelling prowess, and in honor of the renowned Scripps National Spelling Bee, sports dining and entertainment mecca ESPN Zone announces its inaugural “Sports Spelling Bee” competition.

The Sports Spelling Bee is timed in conjunction with the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee, slated for May 29-30. Six ESPN Zone locations (Anaheim, Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas and New York) are seeking competitors to go head-to-head in proving their sports spelling acumen on Wednesday, May 28. The two remaining locations – Baltimore and Denver – will hold their Sports Spelling Bee on May 29. Quarterfinal rounds of the Scripps National Spelling Bee are scheduled for May 29, and Semifinal and Final rounds of the Scripps Bee will be televised on ESPNHD.

Each ESPN Zone location will accept up to 50 Sports Spelling Bee competitors for the single-elimination event. Spellers ages 21 and over will attempt to spell the names of local and national and past and present athletes and coaches. The challenge level ranges from Easy to Difficult, and the competition will continue until there is one champion speller left standing in each location.

“ESPN Zone is a veritable playground for sports fans – we have patrons who can answer any trivia question in the book about their favorite player or team,” said Christine Baum, national marketing manager for ESPN Zone. “We created Sports Spelling Bee to appeal not just to sports fans who are trivia brainiacs but also those who have a deep-seeded passion for any sports-themed event, no matter the challenge.”

Each Sports Spelling Bee competitor will have 30 seconds to correctly spell the given name, which can include a first or last name. The first round will kick off with local names; the second round will include national names; and the third round and beyond will include both local and national names. Contestants are only allowed to ask what team the athlete/coach is/was associated with, as well as one repeat of the name.

To enter ESPN Zone’s Sports Spelling Bee competition, hopefuls are asked to send an e-mail to SportsSpellingBee@espnzone.com and include their name, address, phone number, year of birth and the ESPN Zone location at which they’d like to participate. Participants may also register in-person by visiting the Retail Store at their local ESPN Zone location. Walk-up participants may be accepted on event day, if space is available.

The 2008 “Sports Spelling Bee” champ at each ESPN Zone location will walk away with a prize package including: a “Sports Spelling Bee” trophy; an ESPN Zone gift pack (a six month supply of ESPN Zone game cards and $100 in ESPN Zone gift certificates); a one-year subscription to ESPN The Magazine; an ESPN Home Entertainment Sports DVD; a Disney Interactive Studios Video Console Game; and various noteworthy prizes specific to each location. In addition, all competitors that make it to the final round will receive ESPN Zone game cards for their efforts.

To receive more information or schedule an interview with an ESPN Zone representative, contact Formula at (310) 578-7050 or via e-mail at mayer@formulapr.com.

About ESPN Zone

For sports lovers of all types and ages ESPN Zone is an all-encompassing sports dining and entertainment mecca where guests are immersed in an ESPN experience. The concept is built on the broad appeal of ESPN and its affiliated brands. ESPN Zone offers the ultimate viewing experience on more than 150 monitors, including a high-definition big screen. In addition to delicious American Grill Food and top-notch service, guests at each ESPN Zone location can enjoy more than 10,000 square feet of interactive games and attractions. The ESPN Zone concept was developed by Disney Regional Entertainment, which currently operates eight ESPN Zone units in Anaheim, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, New York City, and Washington, D.C.