NBA considering holding games at Disney World to save season—reports
FILE – the game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Sacramento Kings was postponed because of the corona virus at Golden 1 Center on March 11, 2020 in Sacramento, California. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines—The NBA is reportedly considering playing the remainder of the 2019-20 season at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania and the Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds first reported about the NBA’s plans of hosting the games at the massive entertainment complex in Florida.
According to Reynolds, Disney chairman Bob Iger also had a video conference with the league’s board of governors to discuss the NBA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NBA has been in hiatus since mid-March and the Playoffs should’ve been well underway if not for the stoppage.
Apart from theme parks and attractions dedicated to entertainment company’s movies and characters, Walt Disney World Resort also houses the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex since the Walt Disney Company owns ESPN.
According to Bleacher Report, ESPN’s WWSC is equipped to broadcast events and the complex has the HP Field House, the Visa Center, and The Arena that would allow the NBA to host multiple games at once while also providing enough space for practice courts.
The NBA already has an established connection with Disney through ABC and ESPN that broadcast the league’s games.
A number of hotels are also located inside Disney World allowing players to have their families with them during the planned resumption of the season.
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