The 2020 NBA Bubble was the bio-secure bubble at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando, that was created by the National Basketball Association (NBA) to protect its players from the COVID-19 pandemic during the final eight games of the 2019–20 regular season and throughout the 2020 NBA playoffs. 22 out of the 30 NBA teams were invited to participate with games being held behind closed doors at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and the teams staying at Disney World hotels.
An aerial view of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World, the site of the NBA Bubble games
Example of Disney MagicBands
Aerial photo of the blue NBA Bubble fence through Disney's Grand Floridian. This fence isolated player lodging.
A bio-secure bubble, also known as a bubble, or hub city, was a hosting arrangement for sporting events that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, under which events were held at a centralized site, often behind closed doors, with strict quarantine and safety protocols in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. A bubble was established for a single sports season, tournament, or for an ongoing series of events, allowing them to still be held and made available to broadcast audiences.
The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has hosted several bubbles, including the NBA and Major League Soccer.
Aerial photo of the blue NBA Bubble fence through Disney's Grand Floridian. This fence isolated player lodging (bottom) from any members of the public staying at the rest of the hotel (top).
Rogers Place served as a bubble venue throughout the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs and 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.