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Report: Disney World a front-runner to host potential NBA resumption

Long an expected candidate to house any return of live sporting events, Disney World in Orlando appears to be the frontrunner to host any return of the 2019-20 NBA season. Kim Klement-USA TODAY NETWORK

Report: Disney World a front-runner to host NBA amid coronavirus pandemic

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 5/20/20

Rumors suggesting Walt Disney World could serve as a temporary home for the NBA amid the coronavirus pandemic continue to circulate.

In late April, Shams Charania of The Athletic wrote about how the Disney Resort in Orlando possessed all the needed facilities required by the Association to finish the 2019-20 season halted on March 11 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.

Then, NBA insider Keith Smith reported last week that Disney was open to welcoming both the NBA and Major League Soccer if those leagues required hub locations.

Wednesday afternoon, Charania, Smith, and Sam Amick of The Athletic all confirmed there's optimism the NBA and Disney could form at least a temporary partnership:

The NBA has Orlando/Disney World as a clear frontrunner for return-to-play site for resuming 2019-20 season, sources tell me and @sam_amick. Orlando has gained significant seriousness among other cites such as Las Vegas.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 20, 2020

Sources from Walt Disney World tell me: "We are confident we'll be hosting the NBA in some fashion. It may not be the entire league, but we believe the NBA will be here to at least finish part of their season. Still hurdles to cross, but we are preparing as if that is the case."
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 20, 2020

Walt Disney World has begun the early stages of re-working some of their hotel spaces for housing the NBA and their needs. The Wide World of Sports Complex has also had some work done in anticipation of hosting the NBA and possibly MLS, per Disney sources.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 20, 2020

As Amick wrote for a piece published on May 15, no proposal to resume the NBA campaign is yet a slam dunk. Questions remain about player testing and what happens if multiple individuals across several teams all test positive for the coronavirus at the same time while staying on the same campus.

There are also concerns regarding the safety of team personnel, particularly coaches, who are more at risk due to their ages and/or underlying health conditions.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance, who has a weakened immune system due to Crohn's disease, has campaigned that those with preexisting conditions shouldn't have to play during the uncontrolled virus outbreak.

Amick added that Disney owns ESPN, the NBA's top media-rights partner. That reality, along with the fact that the resort holds enough facilities to house teams, broadcast live games, and safely conduct broad testing, all gives fans yearning for some roundball during these difficult times hope they'll see a postseason tournament before the fall months.

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