Could Walt Disney World save the NBA season?

[Smitty731]

Hey All!

I don't share links to things I write outside of RealGM all that often, but I wanted to share this:

https://sports.yahoo.com/why-walt-disney-world-would-be-the-ideal-spot-for-the-nba-to-salvage-its-season-142557713.html

I shared on the GB too, but I know a lot of you don't go there. Or you're straight up banned!

If the NBA season is saved by playing at a single-site, Walt Disney World is the logical choice. Read on for why!

Hope you are all well and staying safe!

Smitty

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Great idea Smitty. There would also be less temptation for the players to head out compared to Las Vegas, where it is always easy to find trouble.

[captain green]

Anything to get this going. just make sure that Celtics are far away from the lakers. And Philly has to share a closet in goofy's room.

[zoyathedestroya]

Smitty is a god.

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[celtics792244]

Oh Mickey, your so fine, your so fine it blows my mind, oh Mickey...
Great idea, no better way than to get new fans on board in a time that there is no alternative.
The negative... how many 'super, duper' teams will we have in future seasons... as all these guys will be surely become pals. Will we only have 1 or 2 teams that matter in years to come?
That is what made this season so much fun...6 to 7 teams that had a legit shot of winning it all.

[Fencer reregistered]

Hey All!

I don't share links to things I write outside of RealGM all that often, but I wanted to share this:

https://sports.yahoo.com/why-walt-disney-world-would-be-the-ideal-spot-for-the-nba-to-salvage-its-season-142557713.html

I shared on the GB too, but I know a lot of you don't go there. Or you're straight up banned!

If the NBA season is saved by playing at a single-site, Walt Disney World is the logical choice. Read on for why!

Hope you are all well and staying safe!

Smitty

So how did this story start? Did you come up with it on your own, getting help from Disney on the facts as needed? Or did they pitch to you (with you being the obvious choice due to your history with them, among other reasons)?

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Hey All!

I don't share links to things I write outside of RealGM all that often, but I wanted to share this:

https://sports.yahoo.com/why-walt-disney-world-would-be-the-ideal-spot-for-the-nba-to-salvage-its-season-142557713.html

I shared on the GB too, but I know a lot of you don't go there. Or you're straight up banned!

If the NBA season is saved by playing at a single-site, Walt Disney World is the logical choice. Read on for why!

Hope you are all well and staying safe!

Smitty

So how did this story start? Did you come up with it on your own, getting help from Disney on the facts as needed? Or did they pitch to you (with you being the obvious choice due to your history with them, among other reasons)?

I think Smitty came up with it on his own, since he knows the Disney facilities, as well as his knowledge of what would be required for the NBA to start up again during the pandemic.

[Smitty731]

Hey All!

I don't share links to things I write outside of RealGM all that often, but I wanted to share this:

https://sports.yahoo.com/why-walt-disney-world-would-be-the-ideal-spot-for-the-nba-to-salvage-its-season-142557713.html

I shared on the GB too, but I know a lot of you don't go there. Or you're straight up banned!

If the NBA season is saved by playing at a single-site, Walt Disney World is the logical choice. Read on for why!

Hope you are all well and staying safe!

Smitty

So how did this story start? Did you come up with it on your own, getting help from Disney on the facts as needed? Or did they pitch to you (with you being the obvious choice due to your history with them, among other reasons)?

Totally mine. I did fact check a few things, since it had been a bit since I had worked any events at EWWS. (Self-congratulation: I was correct on all of what I needed to fact check!).

From there, I pitched the idea to a couple of outlets that I freelance with and Yahoo bought it.

The same day the article posted, 4/16, I heard from some people with Disney and some people from the NBA (teams, players and the league itself). All were nice and supportive. The message from the NBA itself was "Thank you for a thoughtful and thorough idea."

When Shams broke his report that the NBA was seriously considering the idea, it blew up all over again. This time around, it was in a much bigger way. I heard from even more people this time around. All have again been very supportive, with a handful asking supporting questions.

Sorry for the long post, but I figured it would be good to put a little context to the idea's formation and what happened since. But the entire thing was all me. After nearly 20 years of work at Walt Disney World, I have a pretty good idea of how things work.

[Fencer reregistered]

Hey All!

I don't share links to things I write outside of RealGM all that often, but I wanted to share this:

https://sports.yahoo.com/why-walt-disney-world-would-be-the-ideal-spot-for-the-nba-to-salvage-its-season-142557713.html

I shared on the GB too, but I know a lot of you don't go there. Or you're straight up banned!

If the NBA season is saved by playing at a single-site, Walt Disney World is the logical choice. Read on for why!

Hope you are all well and staying safe!

Smitty

So how did this story start? Did you come up with it on your own, getting help from Disney on the facts as needed? Or did they pitch to you (with you being the obvious choice due to your history with them, among other reasons)?

Totally mine. I did fact check a few things, since it had been a bit since I had worked any events at EWWS. (Self-congratulation: I was correct on all of what I needed to fact check!).

From there, I pitched the idea to a couple of outlets that I freelance with and Yahoo bought it.

The same day the article posted, 4/16, I heard from some people with Disney and some people from the NBA (teams, players and the league itself). All were nice and supportive. The message from the NBA itself was "Thank you for a thoughtful and thorough idea."

When Shams broke his report that the NBA was seriously considering the idea, it blew up all over again. This time around, it was in a much bigger way. I heard from even more people this time around. All have again been very supportive, with a handful asking supporting questions.

Sorry for the long post, but I figured it would be good to put a little context to the idea's formation and what happened since. But the entire thing was all me. After nearly 20 years of work at Walt Disney World, I have a pretty good idea of how things work.

In that case, VERY well done!! Indeed, awesomely well done.

There really is no limit to the kinds of opportunities that can emerge if one gets a reputation for writing smart and interesting stuff.

One thing I'd advise you to do if it's at all practical -- write a followup refreshing the analysis, even if there's no news hook for it. E.g., I'm sure Disney agrees exactly with some of your educated guesses and would guide you to slightly revising others. Ditto "league sources".

[Parliament10]

Hey All!

I don't share links to things I write outside of RealGM all that often, but I wanted to share this:

https://sports.yahoo.com/why-walt-disney-world-would-be-the-ideal-spot-for-the-nba-to-salvage-its-season-142557713.html

I shared on the GB too, but I know a lot of you don't go there. Or you're straight up banned!

If the NBA season is saved by playing at a single-site, Walt Disney World is the logical choice. Read on for why!

Hope you are all well and staying safe!

Smitty

So how did this story start? Did you come up with it on your own, getting help from Disney on the facts as needed? Or did they pitch to you (with you being the obvious choice due to your history with them, among other reasons)?

Totally mine. I did fact check a few things, since it had been a bit since I had worked any events at EWWS. (Self-congratulation: I was correct on all of what I needed to fact check!).

From there, I pitched the idea to a couple of outlets that I freelance with and Yahoo bought it.

The same day the article posted, 4/16, I heard from some people with Disney and some people from the NBA (teams, players and the league itself). All were nice and supportive. The message from the NBA itself was "Thank you for a thoughtful and thorough idea."

When Shams broke his report that the NBA was seriously considering the idea, it blew up all over again. This time around, it was in a much bigger way. I heard from even more people this time around. All have again been very supportive, with a handful asking supporting questions.

Sorry for the long post, but I figured it would be good to put a little context to the idea's formation and what happened since. But the entire thing was all me. After nearly 20 years of work at Walt Disney World, I have a pretty good idea of how things work.

Great insight, Smitty.
Keep up the Good Work.

[Smitty731]

So how did this story start? Did you come up with it on your own, getting help from Disney on the facts as needed? Or did they pitch to you (with you being the obvious choice due to your history with them, among other reasons)?

Totally mine. I did fact check a few things, since it had been a bit since I had worked any events at EWWS. (Self-congratulation: I was correct on all of what I needed to fact check!).

From there, I pitched the idea to a couple of outlets that I freelance with and Yahoo bought it.

The same day the article posted, 4/16, I heard from some people with Disney and some people from the NBA (teams, players and the league itself). All were nice and supportive. The message from the NBA itself was "Thank you for a thoughtful and thorough idea."

When Shams broke his report that the NBA was seriously considering the idea, it blew up all over again. This time around, it was in a much bigger way. I heard from even more people this time around. All have again been very supportive, with a handful asking supporting questions.

Sorry for the long post, but I figured it would be good to put a little context to the idea's formation and what happened since. But the entire thing was all me. After nearly 20 years of work at Walt Disney World, I have a pretty good idea of how things work.

In that case, VERY well done!! Indeed, awesomely well done.

There really is no limit to the kinds of opportunities that can emerge if one gets a reputation for writing smart and interesting stuff.

One thing I'd advise you to do if it's at all practical -- write a followup refreshing the analysis, even if there's no news hook for it. E.g., I'm sure Disney agrees exactly with some of your educated guesses and would guide you to slightly revising others. Ditto "league sources".

In the works. We're holding to hopefully get a few more details, but looking like it will probably run without those. The NBA is very much taking their time, as they should.

[24istheLAW]

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Bump. Looks like this could actually come to pass.

[The Corey's]

Pretty sad, Shams a former Yahoo employee cant throw Smitty the bone he earned.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

I am guessing that if this goes through the playoffs start in July (with a worse case scenario match up for the Celtics) ends before labor day and the new norm for the NBA is December-August.

[ConstableGeneva]

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[Fencer reregistered]

Pretty sad, Shams a former Yahoo employee cant throw Smitty the bone he earned.

I agree, but that kind of thing doesn't happen much unless there's a very clear pattern, like there is for scoops.

It's generally the people in the industr(ies) being covered who reward your prescience, or else you don't get rewarded at all.

[ParticleMan]

Haha, Smitty FTW!!

It makes a lot of sense. Probably our best hope for finishing the season.

[ConstableGeneva]

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[ConstableGeneva]

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[Parliament10]

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Early August???
Wow. A 5-month gap in play. -- That's something.