{"id":4849,"date":"2020-12-07T10:30:03","date_gmt":"2020-12-07T10:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.safebettingsites.com\/?p=4849"},"modified":"2020-12-07T12:31:12","modified_gmt":"2020-12-07T12:31:12","slug":"nba-finals-2020-viewership-drops-50-compared-to-2019-finals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.safebettingsites.com\/2020\/12\/03\/nba-finals-2020-viewership-drops-50-compared-to-2019-finals\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Finals 2020 Viewership Drops 50% Compared To 2019 Finals"},"content":{"rendered":"

The sports world is one of the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with many major sports all over the world coming to a complete halt. Even after many leagues returned it was clear that the \u201cnew normal\u201d will have a significant effect on the entire sports world. With the pandemic throwing many sporting calendars and seasons in chaos, the makeshift calendars proved detrimental to viewership numbers. According to data presented by Safe Betting Sites<\/a>, the 2020 NBA Finals recorded a 50% drop in viewership compared to the 2019 Finals.<\/p>\n

COVID-19 Positive Tests Suspended NBA Season \u201cUntil Further Notice\u201d<\/h2>\n

On March 11, 2020, The Utah Jazz were scheduled to play the Oklahoma City Thunder despite the threat of COVID-19 already rising in other parts of the world. This was until The Jazz\u2019s star centre Rudy Gobert of France tested positive for the virus. This prompted the league to cancel the game merely minutes from tip-off. The league subsequently suspended the remainder of the 2019-2020 season until further notice.<\/p>\n

In June it was then announced that the season will be restarted on July 31st with an improvised schedule taking in consideration teams current position on the standings when play was suspended. It was agreed that seeding games would be played for all teams that finished within six games of a playoff spot when play was halted.<\/p>\n

Season Restarted Under \u201cBubble Conditions\u201d<\/h2>\n

As part of the plans for a restart, the NBA instituted a strict medical protocol leading up to the restart as well as during the entire playoffs were played. The games were played in controlled venues within Walt Disney World\u2019s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida which was popularly referred to as \u201cthe bubble.\u201d The entire playoffs were played in the bubble with no physical fans in attendance. Many players likened the experience to their days as AAU players before their NBA careers.<\/p>\n

The 2020 NBA Finals pitted the Eastern Conference Champions Miami Heat against the Western Conference Champions, LA Lakers. The finals are traditionally played sometime in June but the pandemic forced an almost 4-month delay with Game 1 played on September 30. This delay, as well as the unique atmosphere the bubble brought, were a clear contributor to the significant decline in viewership numbers.<\/p>\n

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