Report: NBA salvaged $1.5 billion thanks to Disney bubble

The NBA's bubble at Walt Disney World Resort was a resounding success, helping to successfully keep players safe while also allowing the league to avoid further declines in revenue.

The bubble - which cost approximately $180 million to put together - helped the NBA salvage a projected $1.5 billion in losses, sources told Sports Business Journal's John Lombardo. The league preserved the capital primarily through fulfilling television contracts and sponsorships, the latter of which was aided by the implementation of virtual advertisements.

Despite the $1.5 billion that was salvaged, the NBA still suffered significant overall revenue losses because of the regular season's four-and-a-half month stoppage triggered by the coronavirus pandemic in March.

The league will conduct audits of its 30 franchises in the near future to determine the exact amount of revenue lost, and to help formulate next season's salary cap.