The ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hasn’t just shut down theme parks, it’s effectively shut down the sports world as well, with the risk of athletes contracting the virus in such close quarters, and the notion of mass gatherings in stadiums being a definite no-go. Recently, former Cast Member turned Sports Commentator Keith Smith has proposed the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Walt Disney World as an ideal location to salvage the 2019-2020 NBA season, but it seems the NBA isn’t quite at the point where they can consider “bubble-like concepts” yet.
According to USA Today, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver doesn’t know if or when the 2019-20 season will resume.
“In terms of ‘bubble-like concepts,’ many of them have been proposed to us and we only listened. We’re not seriously engaged yet in that type of environment.”
No decisions will be made on the 2019-2020 season this month, nor does that imply that the league will have an answer by May 1. Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger was in attendance at the recent owners meeting, and he gave advice on how the company has dealt with its theme parks, theaters, and ESPN since the COVID-19 outbreak. When asked about specific timelines, Iger stated that the emphasis at this point still remains the data, and not any potential dates.
In a recent Yahoo Sports piece, Keith Smith outlined why Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, paired with nearby resorts, would make the ideal location to save the NBA season. Logistical components would include the ability to create a contained bubble within private Disney property, not to mention the already-existing positive relationship between the NBA and Disney. For more details on Keith Smith’s ESPN Wide World of Sports proposal, we highly recommend reading his full post here.