Which location? I've been to the ones in NYC, Chicago, and Atlanta and NYC was the best one. They broadcast ESPN radio from a booth near the upstairs bar. I've never noticed a cover charge. The prices are just like any other theme restaurant.

Hi - We went to the ESPN Zone in Chicago last month. No cover charge. We ate at the restaurant first (normally inflated prices of a themed place), then went upstairs to the games area. You buy a plastic card worth a certain amount ($20, $50, etc) and then use it instead of tokens at each game. We went through $20 fairly quickly. It's a fun place; your kids are just the right age.

jp, I usually take in a towel and a home equity line of credit!
A lot of things for us big kids to do in there, too.
I loved the hockey booth where you try and score a goal past a mechanical goalie. Football throw was also a lot of fun.
Virtual video games too.
The virtual boxing tired me out so I had to go to the restaurant and get a Goose and a platter of great Buff wings.

Keep the plastic card too or you'll have to pay an addtl. "card charge" if you go back again.

Keep an eye on your hubby sneaking back in line to "recharge" his card!
Kal

As part of a package, we received $50 in ESPN Zone game cards. We used them at the Anaheim facility. My four kids easily went through that money in no time at all. I didn't check my watch, but I'm guessing it was 30 to 45 minutes for the kids to spend $50 total, or about $14 each. They had fun, but the place is noisy and frenetic and not somewhere I would want to linger. Even the kids were ready to go home after using up the cards. There was no cover charge. Your kids are a good age for it. Your son might like it better than your daughter though, unless she's really into sports. My eight year old boys were occasionally frustrated when they couldn't figure out how to work various games, so being a bit older is probably better.

Thank you for the help. We will be going to Chicago.

jprny,
Another great place to take the family is a restaurant called Ed Debevics at 640 N. Wells. Its a themed 50's diner. The waitstaff dances on the tables, makes the kids wear silly fry cook hats, and the waitstaff is rude on purpose..I think you guys would get a kick out of it..its also in the same vicinty as other themed restuarants..ie..hard rock, rainforest cafe..

Hope this helps!