  Unofficially, ESPN Zone is “en fuego.”
  The trademark expression hangs over the kitchen area at
the sports and entertainment network’s seventh Zone, located at New York-New
York.
  “This sight was chosen because we felt it was the
perfect setting,” said Paula Pettit, ESPN Zone’s marketing director. “New
York-New York and Mirage MGM embraced the partnership. We are glad to be
here.”
  The official opening of the Las Vegas site is Friday, but
the public has been able to visit the facility since last week. The early
returns, according to Pettit, are very favorable.
  “People really seem to love it here,” Pettit said.
“There is so much for kids and adults to do. We are family-oriented and
capable of hosting SportsCenters and other live broadcasts. I think this will be
a hub for athletes when big events are in Las Vegas.”
  Other ESPN Zones are located in New York, Washington D.C,
Baltimore, Anaheim, Chicago and Atlanta. Orlando has an ESPN restaurant-bar.
  There will be private VIP party this Thursday, prior to
the official opening. Among the honorees will be former heavyweight champion
Buster Douglas, Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda and Olympic gold medalists
Nadia Comaneci (gymnastics) and Rulon Gardner (Greco-Roman wrestling).
  “The theme centers on athletes, who have beaten the
odds,” Pettit said. “Lasorda is being cited for leading the Olympic baseball
team to the gold medal. Comaneci is celebrating the 25th anniversary of her
perfect 10 score.”
  Grand Master Flash will supply the music and a fireworks
display at the Brooklyn Bridge is also planned.
  The official opening will showcase the Zone’s screening
room, which features two giant 14-foot screens. There will also be 12 additional
monitors, along with leaderboards that supply up-to-the-minute stats and trivia.
  “The screening room is sure to be a real popular
place,” Pettit said. “We also have booths with monitors on the tables. The
monitors have surround-sound and Internet capabilities.”
  The
“Zone Thrones” consist of 11 leather recliners with control panels built
into the armrests, allowing customers to control the audio from the various
telecasts being shown on the monitors.
  “There
is also a swivel top for cocktails and dining,” Pettit said. “Everything is
first come, first serve. We take no reservations, so it’s best to get here
early.”
  The Zone also has commissioned artists contributing works
relating to famous Las Vegas events and celebrities, such as Andre Agassi, Oscar
De La Hoya, UNLV’s NCAA championship men’s basketball team and the famous
Hagler-Hearns fight.
  “These works are unique and all are done with the
standard ESPN tongue-in-cheek twist,” Pettit said.
  Upstairs is a 9,000 square-foot area for interactive
games, along with an upscale bar and a lounge area.
  “All our games are sports-related and developed for
ESPN Zone,” Pettit said. “We have football, basketball, virtual boxing, auto
racing, miniature bowling, fishing, wave runners, Harley-Davidsons,
snowboarding, air hockey and ÂÂÂskiing.”
  There are ESPN souvenir shops and over 150 monitors in
the Zone, including a dozen in the restrooms.
  “You’ll never miss a play,” Pettit said. “Las
Vegas is really going to enjoy this place.”
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