Clippers owner Steve Ballmer: Arenas won't be open for foreseeable future

The NBA is currently working to resume its season but Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Balmer says that even with sports coming back, don't expect games to be played in front of fans anytime soon due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

"I can’t see anybody agreeing to reopen arenas or concert venues in the foreseeable future," Ballmer told Yahoo Finance. "So, I have to say that things will be fan-less, which, who knows what kind of experience that will be to watch on TV, and for the players."

After pausing play in early March, the NBA season has been on hiatus for nearly three months. However, it is widely believed that the season will resume in late July, with all games being played at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Ballmer confirmed the rumor, saying, "If there’s going to be a reopening, it will be in the Disney World complex."

The former CEO of Microsoft further explained that while the league is still trying to figure out all of the logistics of restarting the season, the decision will ultimately be left up to the league, rather than the owners.

"The league, on behalf of the owners, will make the final decision," Ballmer said. "The owners will certainly give input and have a chance to vote, but it’s really our league office that’s figuring these things through. And some of that is with full transparency [for] owners, some of it can’t be, because it is complicated and needs to be done with some privacy."

Presumably, one of the biggest questions the NBA is facing with a return is how many teams will be returning. While some are pushing for all 30 teams to return, others believe that only teams with real playoff aspirations should be invited back to finish out the season.