NBA Taking Its Talents to Disney World

“I’m taking my talents to…” would be a great modified quote from NBA superstar LeBron James to make at a press conference on the first day of the new “The NBA Experience at Walt Disney World Resort” coming to Disney Springs, currently known as Downtown Disney. In the official Disney Parks blog, the Resort announced a “new, extraordinary entertainment experience for guests of all ages” as a destination to bring NBA fans, families and guests right in the middle of the action. The new attraction will feature the world of professional basketball with different interactive experiences, restaurant and retail store.

The Walt Disney Company and the NBA continue to work together as evidence of the games featured on the company’s sports network, ESPN, and the NBA finals being broadcasted on ABC, a different broadcasting company owned by TWDC. The two made the joint initial announcement earlier this week that initial development has begun on the new project.

The location of this new experience has been much rumored to take over DisneyQuest. The multi-floored attraction has been rumored to be closing over the last two years, but there are still areas that were located in the former Pleasure Island area that have yet to be converted, such as the old BET Soundstage Club and Adventurer’s Club.

This article started off with a quote from LeBron the night he left his old (now new) team of the Cleveland Cavaliers and headed to Miami. With Disney being the Miami Heat in this analogy, Universal Orlando is Cleveland. Universal Orlando confirmed earlier this week that the NBA City restaurant will be closing in late August after another announcement was made that the NBC Sports Grill & Brew would replace the old NASCAR Sports Grille. The NBA City location at Universal Orlando did not have its lease renewed, so an “exciting, new concept for that space.”

The concept for the space will be announced soon according to Universal. Rumors for new tenants include Cheesecake Factory, which was rumored to take over the old NASCAR spot, and World Wrestling Entertainment. Yes, the company that is known for laying smackdowns could bring a restaurant and physical Hall of Fame attraction to the space, “brother.” (WOOOOOOOOO!!!! to quote Ric Flair, two time WWE Hall of Famer)

Stay tuned for future updates on both the NBA Experience and more changes to Universal CityWalk.