Sports Plus

Sports Plus

Sports Plus in Lake Grove, New York, famously featured a rare, carnival-themed "Billy Bob Adventure Show". As a unique variation of the Rock-afire Explosion by Creative Engineering, the show featured four animatronic characters: Billy Bob, Fatz, Mitzi, and Looney Bird. The animatronics were permanently removed in 2002 and are presumed destroyed.

History and Details: The Sports Plus entertainment center opened in the summer of 1996. Spanning 60 acres, the massive complex boasted an 18-hole golf course, ice rink, bowling alley, arcade, and an indoor roller coaster that flew through the wall.

The animatronic band was housed in the "Kid's Town" section of the building. Unlike the standard full-stage ShowBiz Pizza shows, the Sports Plus setup was a miniature stage, incorporating video monitors alongside the mechanical characters. Billy Bob, Fatz, and Mitzi performed on stage, while Looney Bird appeared positioned behind a "Test Your Luck" carnival booth.

Fate of the Show: When Kid's Town was remodeled around 2002, the animatronic band was removed from the stage. In 2004, the cosmetics of the characters were repurposed as static displays in the dark ride "Thriller Coaster". Following insurance and financial issues, Sports Plus officially closed on June 30, 2007. During the subsequent liquidation auction, the animatronics failed to sell and were ultimately discarded.