Published 03:04 IST, May 24th 2020
NBA in talks with Walt Disney to resume season at its Orlando-based resort in July
NBA announced that the league is in talks with Disney about restarting its season, suspended since March 11, at the Orlando-based resort in late July.
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National Basketball Association (NBA), on Saturday anunced that league is in talks with Walt Disney to restart its suspended season in late July at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, a massive campus on Disney property near Orlando. league stated that talks are, as of w, 'exploratory' in nature.
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Disney World to host NBA games?
A statement posted on NBA's twitter account by Mike Bass, Chief of Communications read, " NBA, in conjunction with National Basketball Players Association, is engd in exploratory conversations with Walt Disney Company about restarting 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 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."
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ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is a 255-acre campus with multiple arenas that could host games simultaneously and has been home to, among or things, Jr. NBA World Championship in recent years. ESPN is primarily owned by Disney, one of NBA’s broadcast partners.
entire complex is roughly 40 square miles, with nearly 24,000 hotel rooms owned or operated by Disney within campus.
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Disney World is one of few places that could accommodate league as y have all required resources. Disney's Wide World of Sports venue will offer league various advants like multiple courts and hotels. y will also have close proximity to Orlando Magic facilities and an 'immediate readiness' for broadcasting games. y have 34 on-property resorts, along with three indoor venues and acres of field . Yahoo Sports' Keith Smith also reported that Disney is a possible option as Disney Chairman Bob Iger shares a good relationship with both NBA commissioner Adam Silver and NBPA President Chris Paul. As NBA wants to play in a 'bubble city', Disney World is being seen as perfect option as it is a private property that gives league more control.
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03:04 IST, May 24th 2020