• June 27, 2003

First there was the ESPN Zone, and now there's the Fox Sports Grill. The company's second location at the Irvine Spectrum Center in Irvine, Calif., was opened Thursday night with a party full of athletes and celebrities. The grand opening celebration included a live performance by Sugar Ray plus appearances by Troy Aikman, Jillian Barberie, Terry Bradshaw, Jay Mohr, Gordon Clapp and Jason Priestley. Fox Sports Grill, founded by Fox Sports and B&B Restaurant Ventures, debuted in Scottsdale, Ariz., in the fall of 2002. The restaurants feature contemporary American cuisine with a sports bar, cigar lounge, outdoor putting green and billiards room. There's also an area for live Fox Sports broadcasts. "The grand opening of our second location furthers our goal of elevating the traditional sports bar experience to a new level. We've created a winning concept that combines an unexpected dining experience with FOX-style entertainment," said Bill Freeman, president and CEO of Fox Sports Grill.