First found by danlb_2000 on the WDWMagic forums, Disney has filed a permit for demolition at the NBA Experience in Disney Springs, which never reopened following the COVID-19 pandemic closures at Walt Disney World Resort.
Permits Filed for Demolition at NBA Experience
The permit, filed on February 15, 2024, lists “General construction/Demo” as the “general description of improvement,” with the project assigned to Adena Corporation, which has handled large projects for Walt Disney World in the past, including the World Celebration Gardens at EPCOT.
According to danlb_2000, there is no indication in the permit that the entire building will be demolished as it was in 2017; that permit listed “demo of structure and additional work” as the general description. City Works Eatery & Pour House also shares the building with the former attraction, and has not announced any form of closure.
However, possible demolition work could include removing the large basketball mural that wraps around the building, or interior spaces that were heavily customized for the experience.
Per WDWMagic, Disney has been actively searching for new tenants to take over the space, but the company has yet to announce a replacement. In 2022, Meta Quest moved in temporarily to offer a limited-time demo of ILM x LAB’s “Star Wars: Tales From The Galaxy’s Edge.” It’s also reportedly been used as office space for the opening of Summer House on the Lake.
The NBA Experience opened to guests on August 12, 2019, replacing the former Disney Quest attraction and offering basketball fans a chance to immerse themselves in their favorite sport. It never reached a high level of popularity among guests, and initially closed with the rest of the resort in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; all Cast Members stationed there were laid off in October 2020. On August 16, 2021, Disney announced that the NBA Experience would not reopen at Disney Springs, though the company would continue to collaborate with the NBA in other endeavors.
Watch our full tour of the former NBA Experience:
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