Last year, the NBA season ended abruptly due to the continued spread of the COVID-19 virus. The solution to restart the season was a bubble in Orlando, on one of Disney’s properties. The NBA bubble was renowned for being COVID free after everyone got there, and most in the sports world have deemed it a responding success. The bubble couldn’t have happened without Disney’s collaboration, and perhaps there is more in store.
This year, Disney will host a bubble for the G-League season. It seems like the two parties are continuing to work together, and Keith Smith revealed how a Disney source viewed the partnership.
https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1344062964907855880
It makes sense that Disney would want to partner with one of the biggest sports leagues in North America. The partnership would bear fruitful long into the future: despite the declining TV ratings for the NBA, the demographics that the league targets are younger people, who will likely make the NBA a household sport in a few short years. The potential of a midseason tournament could be good for the league revenue-wise, to offset losses from COVID-19 that will likely stretch into years to come.
A partnership with Disney could be fruitful for both parties. As a huge media organization, Disney would be good for the NBA’s visibility, as well as providing an interesting place to hold a midseason tournament. The two parties both seem mutually interested, and it is only a matter of time before the partnership grows even stronger.
