NBA Board of Governors approve restart plan that involves Disney World

The NBA’s Board of Governors has approved a 22-team format for restarting the season at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World, the Associated Press is reporting.

The teams would be allowed to open training camps in late June before arriving at Disney around July 7. Once there, teams will continue practice and might have some scrimmagees before each team would play eight games to determine playoff seeding.

Games will begin on July 31 and continue into October. Fans will not be allowed to attend.

“The Board’s approval of the restart format is a necessary step toward resuming the NBA season,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Silver said in a statement. “While the COVID-19 pandemic presents formidable challenges, we are hopeful of finishing the season in a safe and responsible manner based on strict protocols now being finalized with public health officials and medical experts. We also recognize that as we prepare to resume play, our society is reeling from recent tragedies of racial violence and injustice, and we will continue to work closely with our teams and players to use our collective resources and influence to address these issues in very real and concrete ways.”

There are still some details that need to be finalized, including a testing plan, financial ramifications of the shortened regular season.

The National Basketball Players Association will meet Friday to discuss this new framework.

No announcements have been made of media coverage, or which resorts all will be staying, however, there has been rumors of Coronado Springs being used.

In addition to the NBA, the MLS is planning on resuming its 2020 season also at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.