ESPN is closing five of its seven locations nationwide immediately, pushing approximately 940 employees out of their kitchens and into the soup kitchens.
We all know that ESPN is a garbage company masquerading as experts in whatever field they attempt to parasite, be it broadcasting, "journalism", "reporting", blogging, et cetera.
Remember when they had a massive retail chain (in So Cal there was one at the Glendale Galleria). That whole chain belly up. And they continue to be the worldwide leader in failure.
Today, the Sultans of Bristol announced that their overpriced greasy spoons known as ESPN Zones are all closing ... except for their two Southern California locations (Downtown at the Staples Center and at Downtown Disney in Anaheim). They are shuttering their Times square location, their Las Vegas locale located next to the Sports Book in the New York New York casino, Baltimore, Washington DC and Chicago. Their two spots in SoCal are, not surprisingly, run by independent companies and hence, survive.
Everyone on earth says the key to a successful eatery is "location, location, location," but it would seem that the four-letter YankSox lubbers found a way to destroy even that simple maxim with incompetence and, let's face it, overpriced bad food that made Planet Hollywood taste like Spago.
Are ESPN regional websites and sportsblogging "networks" far behind?
0 recs | 67 comments
I have to tell the truth
I have ate at two locations (Vegas and Downtown Disney). Both places the food sucked the biggest balls and was too much. But Vegas had TVs in the Bathrooms, how cool is that? Not cool at all. Tiny TVs that suck. In Downtown Disney the only cool thing was the arcade up stairs but that sucked because of the cost and shit games.
I kill places. I have ate at planet Hollywood (gone), ESPN Zone (gone), Rainforest Cafe (next gone)
DAD OF VLAD - June 16, 2010
Because of this
I will refrain from telling you my favorite restaurants
ryanfea - June 16, 2010
I am death to Themed restaurants
DAD OF VLAD - June 16, 2010
Good taste is death to theme restaurants.
Robviously - June 16, 2010
I had some good meals at Hard Rock
Most themed restaurants have food that is on par with most American Restaurants. They might more a bit more pricey, but you pay for the special atmosphere.
Seriously, they are not worse than most American Restaurants, it’s all the same stuff.
oasisman - June 16, 2010
Anyone who is Death to themed eateries is a minor god to me.
Here, take my corporate AMEX and get busy…
Stirrups - June 16, 2010
Shouldn't it be "lesser gods"?
We don’t want to offend them.
Commander_Nate - June 17, 2010
I'm like that with employers
Every place I’ve ever left the employment of has since closed up shop, except In-N-Out, and when I left there Double-Doubles cost $1.20, so I guess they’re safe by now.
rspencer - June 16, 2010
"have ate?"
That’s awesome. 1866baseball.com cannot think up such verbal conjugation.
Downing Rules - June 16, 2010
He makes sentence with luminous resistance power
red floyd - June 17, 2010
LOL. Thinking the same thing....
BeerCub - June 20, 2010
This post pretty much just made my morning.
Commander_Nate - June 17, 2010
Only ESPN coulld screw up such a great idea. But I have to agree with most. Sportzone sucked.
The food was always disappointing and way over priced. (Been to Vegas and Disney)
DoV, could you please eat at Islands next and then Applebees?
Islands is lame and who charges separate for fries? how un-American is that? (not counting fastfood)
And Applebees is Sizzler quality food (bad) with just more variety. I think it’s just TV dinners served on a plate.
If you could get those shut down you’d be doing a service…
Monkeyspanked - June 17, 2010
Totally. Charging for fries.
Islands can go straight to hell. A burger and fries should never cost $15 bucks.
Our forefathers fought so that we can eat fattening, processed carb-laden food at reasonable prices.
RexTookMyStash - June 17, 2010
Islands finally learned a while back...
… fries are no longer a separate charge.
BeerCub - June 20, 2010
Applebees sucks, but they do have Weight Watcher approved items.
So give me a break, and let them live for a while longer.
red floyd - June 17, 2010
RED ROBIN RULES
home of “all-you-can-eat steak fries.” MMMMMM.
Downing Rules - June 17, 2010
i love the all you can eat fries
but they take forever. i ask for fries the second they bring my food
DAD OF VLAD - June 17, 2010
Red Robin SUCKS!
It’s a Circus Circus themed nasty restaurant filled with annoying kids, crappy service, and barely above average food.
Dono Romantico - June 17, 2010
That's funny because I patronize those locations in hopes of fine cusine,
opulent ambiance, and attentive service from wait staff.
RexTookMyStash - June 17, 2010
Did you call my rug rats annoying?
FYI, you are also annoying. ;)
Downing Rules - June 17, 2010
Chili's is OK... average... I just wish they would start serving chili with beans again.
red floyd - June 17, 2010
Never heard of Islands
the applebees near my house is the biggest money maker in Califorina, it is in gilroy
DAD OF VLAD - June 17, 2010
Garlic Ice Cream...
love it, or hate it?
Me: Hate it, and I LOVE garlic.
Downing Rules - June 17, 2010
Second both of those
Islands isn’t awful food, but the fries thing is stupid.
Applebee’s can get nuked off the planet for all I care. I’ve been there three times to three different locations and I couldn’t believe that the food they gave me was fit for human consumption.
Can we add TGI Friday’s to the list? It used to be okay, now it’s terrible.
Gorbachav5 - June 17, 2010
The Islands in Anaheim Hills gives you fries with every take out burger. I don’t know why they don’t also do that when you dine in. Weird.
jhens76 - June 17, 2010
Poor ESPN
Not really. But the one in Downtown disney sucks for real. Rude service and they lag.
M.Napoli For President in 2012 - June 16, 2010
what do you mean lag?
i only had to wait 1.5 hours to eat shit on a plate
DAD OF VLAD - June 16, 2010
We had to wait about the same
for like three bears and a couple sodas…almost made me late to the game
M.Napoli For President in 2012 - June 16, 2010
Mamma bear, Pappa bear, and Baby bear?
44FAN - June 16, 2010
Possibly..
Brother bear, girlfriend bear,
M.Napoli For President in 2012 - June 16, 2010
Sounds like the old A&W menu!
rspencer - June 16, 2010
Pooh, Berenstain, and Care
I don’t think he ordered the family meal course
eyespy - June 16, 2010
Uh... you do realize that in some communities, "bear" has a very specific meaning?
Not that there anything wrong with that.
red floyd - June 17, 2010
Bears Repeating
RexTookMyStash - June 17, 2010
Mike Watt?
jhens76 - June 17, 2010
ha!
AlohaHalofan - June 17, 2010 via mobile
+1
RexTookMyStash - June 17, 2010
Is he related to Perrick Watt?
red floyd - June 18, 2010
How does a restaurant that serves bear go out of business?
Commander_Nate - June 17, 2010
The bears became Catholic, while the Pope shat in the woods?
red floyd - June 17, 2010
I ate at the Las Vegas location
I liked it, it was Monday night, so all they had was Monday Night Football on. It’s a nice concept….to eat higher quality food while watching sports. Sure beats the typical bar hotdog. Unfortunately, there’s no motivation for someone to keep going back on a regular basis. It’s not a local bar, and it was too pricey for too many return customers, especially due to high unemployment.
In response to the jabs at ESPN not being local enough, that’s why they have ESPN Los Angeles now. Obviously on “Big” ESPN they talk about college football and Red Sox vs Yankees, etc a lot. They are a National Sports network, and the Yankees and Red Sox have a large National Following…the Angels do not.
Plus now AM830 has erased all meaningful programming for more ESPN sports chatter, so now there are two local ESPN channels. Surely this should appease Angel fans. Win a championship then talk about respect. ESPN is owned by Disney, Disney was owner when the Angels won their only title. TV is about ratings….
I take it everyone loves Fox Sports around here.
oasisman - June 16, 2010
ESPN may be a national network
but they program like a regional Northeastern cable outlet. The NY and Boston sports teams may have more of a nationwide following than most baseball teams, but that is only because anyone with any sense left there a long time ago.
rspencer - June 16, 2010
Who ever decided to build one in Baltimore
Should be fired. All i need to know and learned about Baltimore are from John Waters films.
DAD OF VLAD - June 16, 2010
Waters has plenty of good Baltimore stories.
44FAN - June 16, 2010
i learned all i need about balto by watching Homicide Life on the Street
seems to be…. gritty.
daze - June 16, 2010
I LOVED that show!
I was really sad when they took it off the air.
raskul - June 17, 2010
+1
red floyd - June 17, 2010
Don't forget Barry Levinson films!
rspencer - June 16, 2010
And The Wire
::shudders*::
*Not really. I’ve been to Baltimore more than a few times and it’s not that bad a place.
ReggieBullits - June 16, 2010
And "Ace of Cakes"
red floyd - June 17, 2010
This is old news Rev.
Maybe change the line that starts with “Today…” and at least mention the parent company.
ReggieBullits - June 17, 2010
I like how McShay was right about Clausen, Mel Kiper looked like he was going to cry.
SenorChuckles - June 17, 2010
He wasn't crying man, he just got some hairspray in his eye
Epic Dean - June 17, 2010
rofls.
SenorChuckles - June 17, 2010
The food is really bad
I love sports, and love the atmosphere, but even given that, I can think of 100 other places I’d rather spend $30 for food.
Gorbachav5 - June 17, 2010
The ESPN hating on this site is over the top
ESPN has done a lot of good for sports and for sports fans. The concept of an all-sports network was ridiculed when ESPN was formed, and it has been one of the most successful and lucrative cable channels for many years now.
Is ESPN perfect? No. Do all teams and athletes receive equal coverage? No. Certain teams are more recognizable and popular (or unpopular) than others. ESPN caters to those preferences. Why? Because it makes them more money. To claim that ESPN is a regional northeast network, however, is just silly. ESPN does many of its broadcasts from Los Angeles, and it makes reasonable efforts to cover the numerous sports, teams, and athletes that are not associated with the Red Sox and Yankees.
I am sorry to say that Rev’s rants about journalists in general and ESPN in particular make him seem bitter and ridiculous.
Brody - June 17, 2010
Flagged!
RexTookMyStash - June 17, 2010
I've hated ESPN for years, starting in 1994.
Rev is spot-on. Yes, they did usher in a new era of sports coverage. Clap, clap. However, their ignoring everything west of the Bronx is pathetic.
Downing Rules - June 17, 2010
Liking ESPN is a breach of party policy!
I see a walk down a dimly-lit tunnel with many hidden nooks in your near future…
Or maybe not, but you never know.
Commander_Nate - June 17, 2010
I find it hilarious how people think that this ESPNLosAngeles is an olive branch...
“change it, Beavis; this sucks!”
Downing Rules - June 17, 2010
ESPN a pioneer?
Their one great contribution to sports coverage: THEY ripped off the George Michael sports machine. OOOOOOoo yeah, give ’em a free pass on everything else. What the hell have you done for me lately?
Every time they get criticized they run to the “but we are entertainers” and ditch “professed commitment to journalism” like a cheap whore at church. They cannot have it both ways and i am going to call them on it, so if I seem bitter and ridiculous it is because those of us with integrity and a conscience are left out of the loop because they have bought and paid for control of the whole circus.
Rev Halofan - June 17, 2010
Who exactly is to blame for what?
Your acknowledged bitterness appears to be directed at the fact that you are not part of the “circus.” Who is to blame for that?
ESPN is far from the only entity invited into the tent. There are hundreds of print, radio, and TV journalists given access to every single sports event every day. There is no shortage of access or coverage. If you don’t have it, it’s not ESPN’s fault — it’s yours. I am sorry that the major sports organizations in this country have stopped short of giving every single person with an internet connection and spare time an all-access pass to their events.
Brody - June 18, 2010
we are talking about two differnt things
I could give a rat’s ass about access. My beef is that they DRIVE the narrative instead of report on it.
Rev Halofan - June 18, 2010
Brody probably works for ESPN...
Drink the Cool-aid Mr. Jones.
Monkeyspanked - June 22, 2010
funk that, I thank ESPN for leading me to NFL network, MLB network, and sports radio (am570 and The Drive).
SenorChuckles - June 17, 2010
Rec'd
I <3 MLB Network and sports radio :)
K3YEROUT - June 17, 2010
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