Bio-secure bubble

The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has hosted several bubbles, including the NBA and Major League Soccer.

A bio-secure bubble, also known as a bubble,[1] or hub city,[2][3] is a hosting arrangement for sporting events that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, under which events are held at a centralized site, often behind closed doors, with strict quarantine and safety protocols in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. A bubble may be established for a single sports season, tournament, or for an ongoing series of events, allowing them to still be held and made available to broadcast audiences.

Aspects

Aerial photo of the blue NBA Bubble fence through Disney's Grand Floridian. This fence isolated player lodging (bottom) from any members of the public staying at the rest of the hotel (top).

A bio-secure bubble typically consists of multiple sites comprising a secure perimeter (often within close proximity to each other), including player residences (such as hotels), training facilities, and the venue proper. All participants, including players, team staff, and other staff (such as broadcasting staff present on-site) are screened and tested for COVID-19 before entering the bubble,[4] live within its confines for the duration of the event, and may not leave the perimeter until they have completed play. The participants are screened and tested regularly for COVID-19, and are restricted from access to and by the general public. Participants may be reprimanded and penalized if they breach biosecurity protocols while within the bubble.[4][1]

As they are usually held without public spectators, events within a bubble are typically produced with television audiences in mind, and broadcasters can employ production techniques not possible in a typical venue with fans, such as different camera angles (including drone cameras)[5] and enhanced microphone configurations.[6] The venue may be customized with video boards and artificial crowd noise to simulate the experience of the designated home team's venue,[7][8] and display mosaics of "virtual" fans via videoconferencing.[9]

Usage

Basketball

Taiwan's Super Basketball League was the first basketball league in the world to move competition into a bubble setting in order to complete the season.[10]

The National Basketball Association was among the first major American sports leagues to suspend play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11][12][13] In June 2020, the league's board of governors approved a plan to complete the remainder of the 2019-20 season, including the remaining regular season games and the playoffs, within a centralized bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Orlando, Florida's Walt Disney World.[14] Players were housed in three of Walt Disney World's resorts,[15] and games were held at one of three arenas within the complex (with one, the AdventHealth Arena, designated as the flagship venue to host nationally televised games and the final rounds of the playoffs).[6]

Combat sports

The mixed martial arts promotion UFC established a bubble known as "Fight Island" to conduct international events, which comprises a quarantine zone on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.[16]

Cricket

The July 2020 test series between England and West Indies was conducted as a bubble, with players staying in a hotel on-site.[17] On 16 July 2020 during the morning of the second Test, Jofra Archer was excluded from England's squad after breaching COVID-19 protocols by leaving to his home after the first Test. Archer was fined, and ordered to self-isolate for five days before returning.[18][19][20]

The 2020 Indian Premier League was re-located to bubbles in the United Arab Emirates.[21][22]

The first One Day International (ODI) in England's tour of South Africa on 4 December 2020 was postponed to 6 December after a South African player tested positive for COVID-19; matches were being held in Newlands and Paarl, with players staying at a hotel in Cape Town. The match was called off after two employees of the quarantine hotel tested positive. Two English players were also reported to have unconfirmed cases, after which the second ODI on 7 December was postponed. On 7 December, the remainder of the ODI series was called off.[23][17][24][25]

Curling

Curling Canada hosted most national championships for the 2020–21 curling season, including the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, 2021 Tim Hortons Brier, and the World Men's and Women's championships, at a bubble using the Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. All events were held behind closed doors.[26][27]

Football

Major League Soccer conducted an in-season tournament—the MLS is Back Tournament—at a bubble within the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.[5][28]

The 2020 Chinese Super League split its teams between Dalian and Suzhou.[29] The Philippines Football League is noted for hosting its 2020 season in just under two weeks under a bubble with a downsized format, due to financial and logistics issues caused by the pandemic.[30]

Ice hockey

Rogers Place served as a bubble venue throughout the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs and 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

The National Hockey League established a bubble in two Canadian cities to conduct its 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, with Eastern Conference teams being initially hubbed at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, and Western Conference teams being hubbed out of Rogers Place in Edmonton. Beginning with the conference finals, all games were played in Edmonton, including the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals.[31][8]

The 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships were originally awarded to Edmonton and Red Deer. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the IIHF established a bubble for the tournament and hosted it solely at Rogers Place.[32][33]

Professional wrestling

WWE introduced an arena residence inspired by bubbles in August 2020 known as the "ThunderDome", which became the home arena for its major pay-per-view events and weekly programs (such as Raw and SmackDown). It replaced the smaller studio of the WWE Performance Center, a training facility where WWE originated the majority of its programming since the onset of the pandemic. Its stage featured a virtual audience displayed on a grandstand constructed from rows of LED screens, and it was promoted as featuring an in-arena production on par with WWE's pay-per-view events pre-pandemic.[34][35] The ThunderDome was initially situated at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.[34][35] In December 2020, WWE relocated to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, as Amway Center was needed by the arena's sports tenants.[36] In April 2021, after holding WrestleMania 37 as its first major in-person show since the onset of the pandemic, WWE relocated the ThunderDome setup to Yuengling Center on the campus of the University of South Florida in Tampa, as Tropicana Field was needed by the Tampa Bay Rays.[37] In mid-July, WWE resumed its live touring shows.[38]

Other professional wrestling promotions similarly held shows behind closed doors. All Elite Wrestling (AEW) held empty arena shows at Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida (with a brief few weeks in March–April 2020 at The Nightmare Factory, AEW's de facto training facility in Norcross, Georgia). To make up for not being able to have live fans, employees and contracted wrestlers served as the live audience during matches in which they were not involved.[39][40] In late August, AEW began to readmit a limited number of fans (10–15% venue capacity),[41] before running full capacity shows in May 2021.[42] AEW resumed live touring in July.[43]

Outside of sports

Television and film director Tyler Perry has used a bubble model to film productions at his Tyler Perry Studios in Georgia, United States. The studio is situated on the site of the former Fort McPherson military base, with cast and crew staying and quarantining in the various historic homes, barracks, and permanent sets on the lot, which include a replica of the White House and a "neighborhood" of functioning houses. This arrangement is aided by the quicker turnaround time of Perry's productions in comparison to other television series, as well as his productions rarely performing shoots outside of the lot.[44][45][46]

Reception

The use of bubbles by major professional leagues in North America have been considered largely effective; the National Basketball Association[47] and National Hockey League[48] did not record any new cases of COVID-19 within their respective bubbles during the duration of competitions staged there. By contrast, the 2020 regular seasons of Major League Baseball and the NFL—which had teams travelling to individual venues as usual (albeit with MLB realigning its schedule to reduce travel)—were afflicted by outbreaks among players that led to various postponed games.[49][50] Major League Baseball eventually decided to use a neutral site model for its 2020 postseason in order to reduce the chance of further disruption, with games split between venues in California and Texas beginning with the Division Series round, and the 2020 World Series held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Most games were held behind closed doors, except for the National League Championship Series and World Series in Arlington, which hosted spectators at 25% of the new stadium's capacity.[51][52]

Concerns have been raised over "bubble fatigue", as players are isolated from their families and the outside world for an extended period of time until the event concludes or they are eliminated.[53][54] IPL player Shikhar Dhawan described the experience as being "almost like Bigg Boss [the Indian version of Big Brother]", and a test of his "mental strength".[55]

References

  1. 1 2 Benz, Tim (July 15, 2020). "A look at how Toronto 'hockey bubble' will be set up for Penguins". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  2. ↑ "NHL hub cities of Edmonton, Toronto ready for Stanley Cup Qualifiers". NHL.com. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  3. ↑ Ralph, Dan (2020-07-21). "Winnipeg named CFL hub city for 2020 season". Winnipeg. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  4. 1 2 Staff Writer (2020-09-17). "What are 'bio-secure bubbles'? The new normal for cricket tournaments". mint. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  5. 1 2 Dachman, Jason. "MLS Is Back Tournament: ESPN's Host-Feed Production Features Unprecedented Tech Arsenal". Sports Video Group. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Dachman, Jason (July 30, 2020). "NBA Returns: ESPN, Turner, NBA Team Up for Sprawling, COVID-Safe Production at Wide World of Sports". Sports Video Group. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  7. ↑ Wyshynski, Greg (July 24, 2020). "NHL games to have 5-second delay, EA cheering". ESPN.com. ESPN Inc. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  8. 1 2 "NHL releases details about life in hub cities, in-game presentation". Sportsnet.ca. Rogers Sports & Media. July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  9. ↑ Medina, Mark (July 24, 2020). "NBA to feature 'virtual fans' at arenas for season restart". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  10. ↑ Stein, Marc (April 10, 2020). "Can the N.B.A. Learn From Taiwan's Basketball Bubble?". The New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Coronavirus cancellations and reactions in sports". ESPN.com. June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Coronavirus pandemic causes NBA to suspend season after player tests positive". www.nba.com. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  13. ↑ Cacciola, Scott; Deb, Sopan (2020-03-12). "N.B.A. Suspends Season After Player Tests Positive for Coronavirus". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  14. ↑ "Sources: NBA approves return plan by 29-1 vote". ESPN.com. 2020-06-04. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  15. ↑ Medworth, Whitney (June 16, 2020). "Every Disney hotel NBA teams are staying in, explained". SB Nation. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  16. ↑ Ben Collins (2020-07-10). "UFC 251: 'Beautiful, surreal, insane' - what's Fight Island really like?". BBC Sport.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. 1 2 "What next for England and cricket's bio-bubbles?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  18. ↑ "Jofra Archer excluded from second England-West Indies Test". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  19. ↑ "Archer trip could have been 'disaster'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  20. ↑ "Jofra Archer: England bowler fined and given written warning by ECB". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  21. ↑ "IPL in times of COVID-19: Bio-bubble explained". The Week. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  22. ↑ "IPL 2020: Is the IPL's bio-bubble a safe zone?". Hindustan Times. 2020-09-06. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  23. ↑ "South Africa-England ODI called off amid Covid scare". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  24. ↑ "South Africa v England: First ODI called off again after positive Covid tests". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  25. ↑ "South Africa v England: ODI series called off after Covid-19 tests". BBC Sport. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  26. ↑ Jesse Campigotto (December 2, 2020). "What we know and don't know about the curling bubble". CBC Sports. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  27. ↑ "World Men's Curling Championship 2021 to be held in Canadian hub city". World Curling Federation. 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  28. ↑ "ESPN looking to "own the morning" with MLS Is Back Tournament". SportBusiness. July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Football: Back in the bubble, Chinese Super League into playoff stages". CNA. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  30. ↑ "The two-week season: coronavirus shrinks the PFL". ABS-CBN News. Agence France-Presse. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  31. ↑ Johnston, Chris (July 10, 2020). "NHL is back in business with ratification of CBA, return-to-play plan". Sportsnet.ca. Rogers Sports & Media. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  32. ↑ "World Juniors will be hosted in an Edmonton bubble: TSN". CTV News Edmonton. September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  33. ↑ "IIHF announces 2021 world juniors will be played in Edmonton bubble". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  34. 1 2 Barrasso, Justin. "WWE Turning Orlando's Amway Center into 'WWE ThunderDome'". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  35. 1 2 Otterson, Joe (2020-08-17). "WWE to Establish 'ThunderDome' Residency in Orlando's Amway Center". Variety. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  36. ↑ Otterson, Joe (2020-11-19). "WWE to Move ThunderDome to Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay". Variety. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  37. ↑ Williams, Randall (2021-03-24). "WWE Moves ThunderDome to USF's Yuengling Center". Sportico.com. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  38. ↑ Hayes, Dade (2021-05-21). "WWE To Resume Live Tours With 25-City Slate Through Labor Day". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  39. ↑ Mealey, Jason (13 March 2020). "AEW moves show from Rochester to Jacksonville due to coronavirus". News4Jax.com. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  40. ↑ Papaleo, Dennis (3 April 2020). "AEW taped weeks of television, Georgia state official attended this week's taping". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  41. ↑ AEW Staff (August 28, 2020). "Important Information for Fans Attending Live Events". All Elite Wrestling. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  42. ↑ Johnson, Mike (May 5, 2021). "Double or Nothing 2021 PPV notes". PWInsider. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  43. ↑ Middleton, Marc (May 10, 2021). "AEW Announces Return To Touring, Tony Khan Comments". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  44. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (2020-07-29). "Tyler Perry Gives Progress Report On Producing His Shows During Pandemic, Shares His Hope For The Industry & The Country". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-02-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  45. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (2020-04-27). "Reopening Hollywood: Tyler Perry Lays Out Plan To Safely Restart Production At His Atlanta Studio". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-02-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  46. ↑ Buckley, Cara (October 2, 2019). "Tyler Perry Builds a New Kingdom, With Madea Behind Him" – via NYTimes.com.
  47. ↑ Pegher, Kelcie (October 12, 2020). "Coronavirus Today: The NBA's bubble worked". LATimes.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  48. ↑ Spector, Mark (September 29, 2020). "Completion of Stanley Cup Playoffs an achievement worth celebrating". Sportsnet.ca. Rogers Media. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  49. ↑ Kilgore, Adam. "After 256 games and a few close calls, the NFL's pandemic regular season comes to an end". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  50. ↑ "MLB schedule has 43 total games postponed due to positive COVID-19 cases". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  51. ↑ "MLB sets playoff bubbles: Schedule, neutral-site locations and everything else to know for 2020 postseason". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2020-09-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  52. ↑ Axisa, Mike (September 30, 2020). "MLB will allow fans to attend 2020 World Series, NLCS at Texas Rangers' Globe Life Field". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2021-02-14.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  53. ↑ Wawrow, John (August 24, 2020). "Bubble fatigue cited as mental challenge during NHL playoffs". Associated Press. Retrieved August 24, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  54. ↑ "Stress of bio-secure bubbles: Sam Curran expects players to 'pull out at different stages'". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2020-12-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  55. ↑ "IPL 2020 bio-secure bubble almost like living in 'Big Boss' house, jokes Shikhar Dhawan". India Today. September 16, 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
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