The NBA continues to mull pushing back the start of next season to as late as March. Also: MLS plans to play games in home markets as soon as this week; Peacock is adding The Rich Eisen Show; and more.
NBA still mulling March start for next season
The NBA is willing to begin its next regular season as late as February or March if doing so buys time for potential breakthroughs against COVID-19 that could allow fans to attend games, ESPN reported Saturday. Morning Consult reported as much last month, noting that an in-house NBA consulting team planned to recommend a March-to-October schedule as one of four potential scenarios for next season, using the same rationale.
Per ESPN, a Martin Luther King Day start is also under consideration.
In the event that the season begins on or around December 1, as is currently planned, the league is also weighing playing games in practice facilities or in multiple regional sites, akin to the Walt Disney World ‘bubble’ hosting the league’s current resumption of play.
The bubble scenario, also mentioned in last month’s Morning Consult report, would have multiple sites hosting ‘pods’ of teams a month at a time. [ESPN.com 8.8]
MLS planning to resume regular season day after tournament ends
Major League Soccer announced Saturday that it plans to resume its regular season as soon as this coming Wednesday, the day after the MLS is Back Tournament is scheduled to end, with teams playing in their home cities. FC Dallas and Nashville, the two teams who were pulled from the MLS is Back Tournament, would play each other Wednesday and next Sunday, with other teams resuming play August 20.
An expanded MLS Playoffs would begin November 20, with the MLS Cup set for December 12. [MLS 8.8]
Eisen show to Peacock, Patrick reportedly to follow
NBC Sports announced Thursday that The Rich Eisen Show will begin streaming exclusively on the NBC service Peacock starting October 5. Until then, it will resume airing on NBCSN starting August 17. The show first began airing on the network earlier this year.
In addition, Outkick the Coverage reported Friday that The Dan Patrick Show will also move to Peacock at some point this fall. Since leaving NBCSN last year, the show has aired on the B/R Live streaming service and YouTube. [NBC Sports PR 8.6, Outkick 8.7]
Plus: XFL sale, NBC layoffs, MAC
The sale of the XFL to an investment group that includes actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been approved by a bankruptcy court. … NBC Sports laid off dozens of online and regional sports network staffers this week, including a number of local on-air broadcasters, NBCSports.com writers and communications professionals. … The Mid-American Conference announced Saturday that it will not play college football games this fall. [SBD 8.7, Awful Announcing 8.3, ESPN.com 8.8]
