One of the highlights of the Megan’s Moving team in 2020 would have to be moving the NBA into and out of the Orlando Bubble. The NBA Orlando Bubble was an isolation zone created at Walt Disney World. The point was to protect NBA players from COVID-19 during the final eight games of their season and the NBA playoffs. We were honored to help the NBA teams move their equipment and supplies. It was an awesome experience!
More About the NBA Orlando Bubble
The Orlando Bubble was a $190 million investment from the NBA. Twenty-two of the thirty NBA teams were invited to participate in the Orlando Bubble. Games were held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and teams stayed at Disney World hotels.
COVID-19 Precautions
To keep the players safe, COVID-19 testing happened regularly within the bubble. If players left without approval from the league, they had to go through a minimum of a 10-day quarantine. They also had to take a deep nasal COVID-19 test. The NBA even set up a “snitch hotline” where players could anonymously tell on anybody who breaks the rules of the NBA bubble.
To find out how to create a moving survival kit for COVID-19, check out this post.
Where the Teams Stayed
The NBA teams stayed in three main hotels on campus. They were the Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs, the Grand Floridian, and the Yacht club. Teams were assigned to hotels based on their NBA standings. The top four seeds in the conference got rooms at the prestigious Gran Destino Tower.
Number of People Permitted
NBA games were being played in three different arenas at the complex. In the beginning, only a few people were allowed to attend. They had to be limited media, team executives, NBA/union personnel, or inactive players. No fans were allowed to sit in the stands.
No more than 37 people were allowed in the NBA bubble. Teams were able to add people as they advanced in the playoffs. Once a team made it past the first round, they could add two staff members. When a team reached conference finals, they could add another pair.
Most Common Item Moved
Since the NBA bubble was really strict on who they let in, it was cool to get a behind-the-scenes look inside NBA’s Orlando campus. Never in the history of Megan’s Moving have we ever had to move that much Gatorade. In fact, it was the most common item we had to move for the team. Since the NBA players needed a lot of hydration we also had to make sure they had plenty on hand — pallets, and pallets of it!
Most Unexpected Item Moved
While Gatorade was the most common thing we had to move, the most unexpected item was extra-long king-sized mattresses. Although, it’s no surprise that the players couldn’t fit on a regular-sized mattress. They towered over us.
Our Overall Impressions
We were surprised at how incredibly organized this impromptu isolation center was for the NBA team considering the short time frame the NBA had to make arrangements. We were thrilled to be a part of the team behind the Orlando campus, and we would do it again in a heartbeat!
The players were all so welcoming to our team. Although we were star-struck at first, we quickly adapted to work within the bubble. It turns out, seeing famous athletes walking around the hotels IS something you can get used to!
We believe our reputation as a top moving company helped us land the gig for moving the NBA into and out of the NBA Orlando bubble. Our white glove moving services set us apart. If you need help with your next move, we’d love to help. Request a quote for your full-service move today!