Disney World ‘clear front-runner’ for resumed NBA games: report

Disney World is the “clear front-runner” for resumed NBA games, The Athletic reported Wednesday.

Orlando has “gained significant seriousness” among the cities considered to host games of the delayed 2019-2020 season expected to resume this summer, with Disney World being of interest as a private property.

“We are confident we’ll be hosting the NBA in some fashion,” a Disney source told Bleacher Report. “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.”

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

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

Sports have essentially halted during the coronavirus pandemic as people avoid large gatherings. But the UFC and NASCAR began holding events again this month, and the PGA Tour will start up in June. 

The MLB and the NHL are planning their comebacks but have not made any announcements.

Team sports are harder to reorganize in the coronavirus era as they require groups of people in close contact. If NBA games were held in Orlando, players, coaches and other essential workers would quarantine together for the rest of the season and experience regular testing, according to the Bleacher Report.