NBA restarts in a bubble, but how?
nORLANDO: The NBA relaunches its 2019-2020 season on Thursday with 22 teams based inside a secure “bubble” at Disney World in Florida due to complete the remainder of the campaign.
A look at some of the key issues surrounding the restart:
WHAT IS THE BUBBLE
From the moment the season was halted in March, the NBA began exploring the feasibility of basing all teams at a single location, creating a giant quarantined safe zone or “bubble” and completing the season there. Las Vegas and Orlando quickly emerged as the front-runners, with the NBA eventually opting for the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida as the best venue. Twenty-two teams are now based in the campus, with players requiring to test negative for COVID-19 twice after arrival before being allowed to enter.
WHO IS ALLOWED IN
Team and NBA personnel are staying in three hotels dotted throughout the complex, with a small number of media, sponsors and inactive players. Games will take place without fans at three different venues on the complex.
In the early weeks of the restart, no guests will be allowed although those rules will be relaxed once the playoffs start.
CAN PLAYERS LEAVE?
Players are allowed to leave the bubble in exceptional circumstances but face a mandatory four days in quarantine before being readmitted. Players must also undergo daily testing when they leave the site. Players are also barred from entering each other’s rooms.
LIFE IN THE BUBBLE
A Twitter account —@nbabubblelife—which documents the daily activities of NBA players based in Orlando has quickly amassed a large following, depicting players doing everything from getting haircuts to playing golf or fishing.
WHAT DOES NBA GAIN
The sole reason that the NBA has been keen on resuming the 2019-20 season was financial, an estimated $1.4 billion split between team owners and players. By restarting the season, NBA will save the revenues from the broadcast rights and advertising. It will still lose 40% of revenues due to no spectators.