Orlando front-runner for NBA’s return, report says
ESPN Wide World of Sports at Disney World could host league when play resumes
Orlando has emerged as the favorite to host NBA games without fans whenever play resumes, according to multiple reports.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and many other Central Florida officials have been touting ESPN Wide World of Sports on Disney World property as an ideal venue to host games. They praise the sports complex’s ability to house teams near practice areas and game venues on private property that would help provide ideal safety conditions.
Support for the NBA’s use of the venue is growing.
“The NBA has Orlando/Disney World as a clear frontrunner for return-to-play site for resuming 2019-20 season, sources tell me and [reporter] Sam Amick,” Stadium and The Athletic reporter Shams Charania posted on Twitter. “Orlando has gained significant seriousness among other cites such as Las Vegas.”
Keith Smith, a Yahoo! Sports reporter who previously worked at Disney World, posted on Twitter, “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.’”
Major League Soccer also has been working toward potentially resuming play in Orlando.
With indoor and outdoor venues spread across more than 220 acres, Wide World of Sports would be able to host the NBA and MLS at the same time while maintaining social distancing. All the venues have lighting and infrastructure needed to easily broadcast games.
MLS could also use nearby ChampionsGate resort and Orlando City’s newly renovated training facility in Kissimmee for additional fields if the league needed more than the 17 multi-purpose fields available at the complex.
The NBA, meanwhile, could get help from the Orlando Magic, using Amway Center’s main court and the team’s practice facility that previously hosted NBA Summer League games.
The Lions have a partnership with Orlando Health while the Magic have a partnership with AdventHealth, making communication with local healthcare providers easier.
In addition to those resources and support from Disney, which also owns television partner ESPN, Orlando is attractive because it has reported relatively low coronavirus numbers compared to other cities.
The decision to shut down theme parks before Orange County implemented a curfew and the governor closed non-essential businesses, the heavy use of cars instead of public transportation, the local population spread out over a relatively large area and residents opting to stay home before they were told it was mandatory all have contributed to the region avoiding a surge in COVID-19 cases, according to extensive reporting by the Orlando Sentinel and Tampa Bay Times.
Orange County, which includes downtown Orlando, has reported 1,708 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and 38 deaths as of Wednesday, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Osceola County, which is adjacent to the Wide World of Sports complex, has reported 636 COVID-19 cases and 18 deaths.
Dr. Raul Pino, the Orange County health department officer, reported to the Orlando Magic the region had ample tests available for anyone without coronavirus symptoms and the team was free to test its players and staff as needed without fear of taking away needed local medical supplies.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said Wednesday afternoon he thought professional sports would likely play in Florida in the near future because of
DeSantis’ order that allows leagues to train and host games.
“I think we’re going to probably in the near term see some level of professional sports activity in Florida and certainly within Central Florida,” Demings said. “Whether or not they start up with fans in the spaces, that remains to be seen.”
He said the leagues want to “reengage at a very cautious and safe atmosphere for these highly paid athletes.”
NBA and MLS officials are already very familiar with amenities available and isolation possible at Wide World of Sports.
The Jr. NBA Tournament has been held at Wide World of Sports multiple times, and MLS hosted many of its All-Star Game festivities in on Wide World of Sports in 2019.