NBA is planning NBA Experience at Walt Disney World
The NBA is planning to build an interactive experience, restaurant and retail space at Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs.
Eds. note: This story has been updated to reflect new information reported by Orlando Magic Daily and a brief reaction from the Magic (6/7)
The NBA announced plans to build an interactive experience, retail store and restaurant at Walt Disney World Resorts’ rebranded Disney Springs (the former Pleasure Island).
“We look forward to uniting the passionate, global fan bases of the NBA and our longtime partner, Disney,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “Working with the world’s top creator and operator of themed entertainment attractions, we can’t wait to bring the magic of Disney and the excitement of the NBA to guests from around the world.”
The NBA said the destination will feature hands-on activities using NBA video productions. It could be very similar to NBA City at Universal CityWalk. The restaurant there featured interactive games and photo opportunities along with a store for NBA fans. It was mostly a restaurant.
The NBA Experience will be much more expanded and technologically advanced than NBA City though.
A source told Orlando Magic Daily, the NBA Experience at Disney Springs will be at least three times the size of the NBA City space and include much more interactive elements. Obviously, technology has greatly advanced since NBA City opened in the late 1990s/early 2000s and can go beyond the larger pop-a-shot games at NBA City.
It promises to be much more immersive and interactive than anything the NBA installed at NBA City. This appears to be more about creating a NBA-branded experience with various interactive elements in addition to a store and restaurant.
What goes into those interactive elements is still in development.
The Magic are not involved in the project in any way, but a spokesman said the team is excited about the project.
Disney Springs is set to replace Pleasure Island with shops, restaurants and entertainment options. The area’s transformation has already begun with the new parking garage at Downtown Disney and the opening of a few of the stores.
More restaurants and specialty stores are due to open in the coming months and years as the whole area gets redeveloped.
The NBA and Disney cited their long-standing partnership through the television deal with ESPN/ABC as a natural extension for this project to move forward.
The new partnership means the end to the NBA’s old restaurant partnership in Orlando.
What this does not say is what the future holds for NBA City at Universal CityWalk. A Universal Orlando representative confirmed to Sandra Pedicini of the Orlando Sentinel that Universal will not be renewing NBA City’s lease. A NBA representative confirmed the closing.
Bay News 9 reports NBA City will close at Universal at the end of August with Universal promising an “exciting new concept” to replace it. Universal already has planned a major sports bar in the location of the old NASCAR Cafe — the NBCSN Sports Bar and Grill.
NBA City was nestled between Islands of Adventure and Hard Rock Cafe. The other NBA City in Minneapolis closed too. However, a Universal source told the Orlando Sentinel that NBA City remained profitable.
As noted before, NBA City had a whole bunch of interactive games with NBA theming, a store to go with the restaurant and several opportunities to interact with the NBA. It does not seem to go into the same detail as the NBA Experience will at Disney Springs.
For Orlando residents and visitors to Orlando, the NBA Experience is going to bring something NBA to the city. And it should be very exciting to see what they come up with.