NBA in talks with Disney over using ESPN facility for games

The US National Basketball Association (NBA) has confirmed that it is talks with Disney that could see the NBA season, which has been frozen by the coronavirus lockdown, resume exclusively at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida.

“The NBA, in conjunction with the National Basketball Players Association, is engaged in exploratory conversations wth The Walt Disney Company about restarting the 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,” said NBA chief communications officer Mike Bass in a statement posted on Twitter.

“Our priority continues to be the 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 are in place.”

According to press reports, officials are considering a restart of the NBA season by July. The NBA was among the first US sports leagues to shut down, with games suspended on March 11. Practice sites have been reopened since May 8 in areas where lockdown restrictions have been eased.

A partnership with Disney will enable the studio’s sports service ESPN to benefit. Disney and Turner Sports together hold the rights to NBA games.