MLS bubble will shrink when resort reopens to the public
Major League Soccer players will have neighbors adjacent to their Disney World area bubble if they advance past the MLS is Back Tournament Round of 16.
The Swan and Dolphin Resort, a Marriott property hosting MLS teams near ESPN Wide World of Sports, will reopen one of its wings to the public on July 29, one day after the Round of 16 ends.
MLS will house eight clubs who qualified for the quarterfinals of the tournament in the Dolphin Hotel for the remaining two weeks of competition. The hotel is marked as sold-out until Aug. 12, the day after the tournament ends.
The entire Swan Hotel, which currently houses some MLS teams in the group stage and is next door to the Dolphin Hotel, will be available for the public to book rooms on July 29.
The Swan and Dolphin buildings are not physically connected. They are separated by a large shared courtyard, with a 0.2-mile walk separating their entrances. This courtyard area includes shared recreational amenities, such as the pools, where many teams have spent their off days.
A league source says there will be barriers between the two properties to ensure hotel guests at the Swan can’t access any part of the Dolphin Hotel.
Teams will be restricted from accessing any areas of the hotel that are open to the public. However, they will continue to receive exclusive access to the restaurants in the hotel, including Shula’s Steak House and Todd English’s Bluezoo.
Players and staff receive coronavirus testing at an offsite convention center, which will remain closed to the public and will not be impacted by the reopening of the hotel.
MLS is not the only league planning to consolidate its Disney World area bubble as teams are eliminated from competition. The NBA will shift from three hotels to one during its playoffs, allowing Disney World to accept reservations from the general public at hotels near the NBA bubble, according to The Athletic.
Security is stationed around both NBA and MLS complexes, preventing outsiders from mingling with the athletes who are trying to avoid exposure to coronavirus.
MLS announced its latest coronavirus testing numbers Thursday night, stating it had zero new cases among athletes, coaches and staff participating in the tournament. Of the 1,124 people in the MLS delegation tested from Tuesday through Wednesday, no one registered a positive test result.
Florida saw a record increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations on Thursday, with a total of 19,825 hospitalizations since the state began tracking the pandemic earlier this year.
Central Florida surpassed 50,000 cases this week, with a total 52,051 positive results and 505 announced deaths in the region.
The Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom parks at the Walt Disney World Resort reopened on July 11, with the remainder of the parks opening later in the week. The theme park is restricting occupancy and requiring adherence to rules regarding thermal checks, face masks and social distancing.