NBA at Walt Disney World

[Farro]

I know, but if Disney picks you up with ME and has buses to the theme parks, it may suffice with some.

Maybe the demand won't be there for it IDK.

Maybe for some.

I wouldn't stay off-site as a trade-off, so I would just go somewhere else next year and try WDW some other year.

I highly doubt they would ever do that though.

 

[mattpeto]

Right. Disney as a vested interest in getting the NBA going because it airs on ABC. NFL does not, though the other networks might want to pull together and develop a similar plan to what the NBA did. It does seem to be working well so far. Disney is lucky to have already had the infrastructure to do something like this, but between the NFL, CBS, NBC, & Fox, I think they can figure something out.

ESPN broadcasts MNF too. With no college football this year, ESPN really needs the NFL.

 

[BrianL]

ESPN broadcasts MNF too. With no college football this year, ESPN really needs the NFL.

Well, that's true, but it's only one game a week, right? They show a lot more NBA it seems like and ABC is the only broadcast network that shows NBA at all.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I don’t know enough about NFL to speak much about how it could be done, but for the bubble aspect and Disney resorts, you could bubble teams in any hotel nearby and transport them to the facility. There are only so many Disney hotels that would be high enough standards anyways. NHL is not bubbled in a single site like Disney. Could be a way to prop up struggling hotels in the area with the major drop in tourism.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Let’s get back to what’s important. The King has returned.

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[Mit88]

MLB could have used Disney as a bubble. Plenty of resort space for them to accommodate the 2,000 players/coaches/media/personnel. There’s enough spring training facilities within 30-60 miles from Disney to have been able to be used.


One thing I find a little weird with the NBA is; They have all been tested regularly. There’s been 0 positive cases in the last like 20 days, and they’ve all been locked within their bubble for the most part. Why are the coaches still wearing masks, and the players distancing on the bench. I get it sets bad optics if you’re showing these athletes running normal life, but if you’re watching these games, chances are you know what these teams have had to do to even make this possible. Its also a sport with contact and no distancing on the court, and they’re not wearing masks on the court, so it kind of makes the protection on the sidelines kind of irrelevant.

Doesn’t take away from the game, I just find it a little weird. But definitely understand why they are, and have to do it

 

[rteetz]

I know, but if Disney picks you up with ME and has buses to the theme parks, it may suffice with some.

Maybe the demand won't be there for it IDK.

That’s a logistical nightmare. Disney wouldn’t do that.

 

[mattpeto]

Well, that's true, but it's only one game a week, right? They show a lot more NBA it seems like and ABC is the only broadcast network that shows NBA at all.

The deal with Disney would present new opportunities for ESPN or ABC to broadcast games.

 

[rteetz]

MLB could have used Disney as a bubble. Plenty of resort space for them to accommodate the 2,000 players/coaches/media/personnel. There’s enough spring training facilities within 30-60 miles from Disney to have been able to be used.


One thing I find a little weird with the NBA is; They have all been tested regularly. There’s been 0 positive cases in the last like 20 days, and they’ve all been locked within their bubble for the most part. Why are the coaches still wearing masks, and the players distancing on the bench. I get it sets bad optics if you’re showing these athletes running normal life, but if you’re watching these games, chances are you know what these teams have had to do to even make this possible. Its also a sport with contact and no distancing on the court, and they’re not wearing masks on the court, so it kind of makes the protection on the sidelines kind of irrelevant.

Doesn’t take away from the game, I just find it a little weird. But definitely understand why they are, and have to do it

Not all coaches are wearing masks. I think that’s more of a personal thing for them. Coach Bud of the Bucks has not been.

 

[BrianL]

The deal with Disney would present new opportunities for ESPN or ABC to broadcast games.

Well, if they could get that it would be huge! The other networks might have something to say about it though.

 

[mattpeto]

That’s a logistical nightmare. Disney wouldn’t do that.

What's the perk of the Disney bubble right now? Dining Plan gone, FP+ window gone, etc.

Magical Express and Transportation to parks and Disney Springs is it...

Those hotels still rely on tourism, they should all partner up as much as possible.

 

[skeeter31]

I don’t know enough about NFL to speak much about how it could be done, but for the bubble aspect and Disney resorts, you could bubble teams in any hotel nearby and transport them to the facility. There are only so many Disney hotels that would be high enough standards anyways. NHL is not bubbled in a single site like Disney. Could be a way to prop up struggling hotels in the area with the major drop in tourism.

Yeah NFL and MLB could go the NHL route and have multiple bubble cities (east and west coasts). NHL is in Toronto and Edmonton and using 2 hotels in each city.

 

[Farro]

What's the perk of the Disney bubble right now? Dining Plan gone, FP+ window gone, etc.

Magical Express and Transportation to parks and Disney Springs is it...

Those hotels still rely on tourism, they should all partner up as much as possible.

Reasons for staying onsite are often intangible. For us, we wouldn't go if we had to stay off-site as we see it as an integral part of a WDW trip.

Others won't see it that way.

I cant imagine Disney would want to give up their prime hotels long term.

 

[SaintsManiac]

 

[gwynne]

What's the perk of the Disney bubble right now? Dining Plan gone, FP+ window gone, etc.

Magical Express and Transportation to parks and Disney Springs is it...

Those hotels still rely on tourism, they should all partner up as much as possible.

I think many off site (Disney Springs, LBV area) are already partnered to some degree. How much depends on the brand you select.

Some benefits (like ME) I see continuing as onsite exclusive.

 

[Mit88]

NFL would never do a bubble season. MLB would have if they didn’t have other disputes with the owners and how much they would get paid.

NFL just have more chaotic personalities. How many football players have been caught having party’s during quarantine? Elliot and Prescott had a huge house party in April right in the middle of things really getting bad and had no remorse. You’d have a “Magic City Wings” story out of the NFL like every night in a bubble.

There’s also no city that they could go to where there would be enough football stadiums to accommodate them. I can’t imagine the NFLPA allowing the league to have their players in High School fields. The College fields will be used by those teams. It just wouldnt work. I dont see the NFL season happening. And personally I think if theres no NFL season, people that have been pro-stay at home/quarantine will question why its being done. Football fans are crazy. You take it away from them for an entire season? It’ll get nasty

 

[rteetz]

What's the perk of the Disney bubble right now? Dining Plan gone, FP+ window gone, etc.

Magical Express and Transportation to parks and Disney Springs is it...

Those hotels still rely on tourism, they should all partner up as much as possible.

Those would be gone right now without the NBA or any sports too. That’s the nature of COVID. A lot of those near WDW hotels offered FP perks and EMH anyways.

 

[Mit88]

Not all coaches are wearing masks. I think that’s more of a personal thing for them. Coach Bud of the Bucks has not been.

I havent watched the scrimmages. I only caught the Jazz/Pelicans match and saw Gentry wearing the mask. Just found it weird that with all the precautions to make the season happen that they’re not comfortable. But its always better to be safe than sorry.

 

[TwoMisfits]

NFL could totally do a bubble...and should...but in a different way than the NBA...

They should have 4 bubble sites with 2 divisions at each site. They could play a 10 game season (2 games each against own division and 1 each against the other one). Then, at the playoffs, they bring teams into existing bubbles by conference and re quarantine (so a bye week)...and then do the same for the super bowl (so another bye week).

Easy peasy...most likely way to actually get a season in (see MLS and NBA vs MLB right now - and the 1st 2 sports have way more contact)...and you could help 4 big tourist cities, not 1.

I'd imagine NYC, Las Vegas, FL (lots of options - pick a city) and TX (same) could be the 4 sites...games played Saturday night, Sun afternoon, Sun evening, Mon evening at each site...

 

[Farro]

NFL could totally do a bubble...and should...but in a different way than the NBA...

They should have 4 bubble sites with 2 divisions at each site. They could play a 10 game season (2 games each against own division and 1 each against the other one). Then, at the playoffs, they bring teams into existing bubbles by conference and re quarantine (so a bye week)...and then do the same for the super bowl (so another bye week).

Easy peasy...most likely way to actually get a season in (see MLS and NBA vs MLB right now - and the 1st 2 sports have way more contact)...and you could help 4 big tourist cities, not 1.

I'd imagine NYC, Las Vegas, FL (lots of options - pick a city) and TX (same) could be the 4 sites...games played Saturday night, Sun afternoon, Sun evening, Mon evening at each site...

I can ABSOLUTELY see more people on board with traveling to Vegas for some games rather than WDW!