• Loading stock data...
Monday, August 25, 2025
Front Office Sports Honors winners are here! View the 2025 winners

Report: NBA Missed 2019-20 Revenue Projections by $1.5 Billion

  • While the bubble season recouped some funds, it was still costly.
  • The NBA lost hundreds of millions of dollars due to Daryl Morey’s pro-democracy tweet about Hong Kong last October.
Report: NBA Missed 2019-20 Revenue Projections by $1.5 Billion
Ashley Landis/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Despite setting up a bubble season that was largely successful — lauded as the gold standard for other sports — the NBA reportedly missed its season-long revenue projections by $1.5 billion. 

The league, which was the first in professional sports to shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, restarted its 2019-20 season on July 30. The Orlando bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports campus, which initially included 22 teams, was estimated to cost $200 million. 

Ultimately, the NBA lost 171 regular-season games. Restarting the season, however, was also reported to have saved the league $1.5 billion in additional losses. The NBA raked in over $8 billion in revenue during the 2018-19 season.

Other factors that contributed to the league’s losses include lack of in-person fans during the restart — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reportedly told NBA players back in May that 40% of the league’s total revenue is generated from games with fans in attendance.

Also adding to that was the rift with China sparked by former Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey’s tweet supporting pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong in October 2019. 

In response to the tweet, China’s CCTV ceased broadcasting NBA games until Game 5 of the 2020 Finals and a handful of Chinese companies cut ties with the league. Silver estimated that the league would accrue over $300 million in losses as a result.

Morey announced he would be stepping down as GM of the Rockets after 13 years on Oct. 15, citing personal reasons.

For the 2020-21 season, the NBA is said to be considering an approximately 72-game schedule that would start around Christmas. Initially, Silver said that a January 2021 start seemed likely; according to an Associated Press source, starting in December instead of early next year could “generate a difference of roughly $500 million in revenue.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Titans

Crypto Group Claims Responsibility for NFL, PGA Dildo Tosses

The group behind many WNBA incidents says it has struck again.
Malik Beasley

Malik Beasley Could Still Be Charged in Gambling Probe Despite Feds Dropping..

Beasley’s lawyer is hoping his client can return to the NBA.
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the pick for the Athletics pick during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy.

MLB Confident New Rights Will Exceed $550M ESPN Deal

MLB would redistribute rights forfeited by ESPN back in February.

Featured Today

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
August 23, 2025

Schools Are Hesitant to Allow PE Into Their Athletic Departments

Regardless of budget, schools don’t believe the risk is worth the reward.
Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks with the media during the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
August 22, 2025

‘Not Ready to Jump In’: Power 4 Commissioners Aren’t Sold on PE

Top leaders in college sports have yet to see a satisfactory proposal.
Nov 23, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks at quarterback Drew Allar (15) during the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium.
August 22, 2025

Private Equity Enters College Sports—Without the Equity

As college football starts, lending agreements have become PE’s best way in.
FIFA

Saudis Awarded 2034 World Cup in Uncontested Vote

Saudi Arabia was the only option after Australia decided not to bid.
May 20, 2024

Top Sports Business Jobs This Week (May 2024)

Each week, our staff combs through the thousands of job listings from…
The stands at the Solheim Cup
September 13, 2024

LPGA Apologizes for Solheim Cup Fan Bus Debacle That Left Stands Half-Empty

The USA-Europe women’s team golf event teed off Friday morning.
Sponsored

Building A Pro League From Scratch

Front Office Sports and Gainbridge® spotlight what it takes to build a professional women’s soccer league.
October 3, 2022

Real Madrid President Renews Call for Super League

Real Madrid’s president believes that soccer is losing ground.
August 10, 2022

PGA Tour Touts Projected Earnings to Keep Players

The PGA Tour is asking its players to consider their potential futures.
August 10, 2022

Bayern Munich to Make Growth Push in U.S. Market

Bayern Munich is looking to expand its reach in the U.S.
Nintendo-logo
August 3, 2022

Nintendo Profits Underwhelm, Switch Sales Decline

Nintendo failed to meet expectations in the company’s latest earnings report.