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The NBA’s internal revenue numbers are in and the league had a really rough year.
According to a report from the AP, the NBA came in $1.5 billion under revenue projections due to several factors caused by the pandemic and a falling out with China earlier in the year.
Via AP
Revenue projections for the league this season were missed by about $1.5 billion, the person said. The losses were the result of a combination of factors — the shutdown caused by the pandemic, the cancelation of 171 regular-season games, completing the season in a bubble at Walt Disney World without fans, the nearly $200 million price tag for operating that bubble and a yearlong rift with the Chinese government that saw NBA games not shown on state television there.
The league is apparently going to try to prevent further losses by returning to play in December which would only be two months after the conclusion of the NBA finals.
The NBA may be back before Christmas and fans could return to games at some point next season, if one plan considered by the league’s board of governors becomes reality.
The board is targeting a Dec. 22 start to what would be a season of 70 to 72 games, with the NBA Finals ending in June again as has been in the case for many years, according to a person with knowledge of the situation
But starting in December instead of mid-January or later could generate a difference of roughly $500 million in revenue, the person said.
While the NBA expected to lose money due to COVID, losing out on $1.5 billion is a pretty shocking amount.