Disney and the NBA confirmed earlier today that they are in discussions to hold the 2020 Season at Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Talk of moving the season began when Keith Smith wrote a piece in Yahoo Sports about what at the time seemed like a far-fetched plan to convert the ESPN Wild World of Sports Complex and select Disney Resort Hotels into a “bubble” that would allow the NBA Season to continue despite COVID-19. We spoke to Keith Smith about this during a Monorail News Livestream.
Now both Disney and the NBA have confirmed that they are in discussions about the possibility. The NBA released the following statement:
“The NBA, in conjunction with the National Basketball Players Association, is engaged in exploratory conversations with The Walt Disney Company about restarting the 2019-20 NBA season in late July at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida as a single site for an NBA campus for games, practices and housing. Our priority continues to be the health and safety of all involved, and we are working with public health experts and government officials on a comprehensive set of guidelines to ensure that appropriate medical protocols and protections are in place.”
Disney also released a statement saying:
“The Walt Disney Company has a great, long-standing relationship with the NBA. We are engaged in conversations with them about completing the 2019-2020 season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World Resort.”
Only time will tell if Keith’s plan becomes a reality. Keep checking Monorail News and our COVID-19 Hub for up to date information about this and other COVID-19 related stories and updates.
