NBA City Closed at Universal CityWalk

NBA City at Universal Orlando CityWalk has officially closed and as of this week crew was on site removing items from the interior. Plus, I saw someone from Universal Creative’s wrecking crew checking out the site. While NBA may have left Universal, they are opening a brand new “experience” at Disney Springs (formally known as Downtown Disney) at Walt Disney World Resort. The new facility will be several times the size of their CityWalk location and will take over the building currently occupied by DisneyQuest. The indoor video game “theme park” will be closing next year to make way for The NBA Experience.

No word yet on what will be replacing their former CityWalk location. Rumors of its replacement have ranged everywhere from The Cheesecake Factory to Willy Wonka’s Candy Factory. Stay tuned for news as it happens. See photos of the closed venue below as well as an official statement from NBA City.

NBA City's doors adorned with a plain piece of paper simply stating "Closed" and another paper with a sad face

NBA City’s doors adorned with a piece of paper simply stating “Closed” and another paper with a sad face

Thank you for visiting NBA City at Universal Orlando CityWalk. Please note that as of Aug. 16, 2015, NBA City is closed.

We’d like to thank our loyal fans for their support and hope you’ll continue to follow the NBA on social media for updates on the development of “The NBA Experience at Walt Disney World Resort.” The expansive, one-of-a-kind destination at Disney Springs in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., will be more than 80,000 square feet and feature hands-on activities for families and guests of all ages, a restaurant and a retail store.

Menu board out front empty

Pardon our dust

Basketballs with players' handprints have been removed, photo by Unofficial Universal Orland Poscast

Basketballs with players’ handprints have been removed, photo by Unofficial Universal Orland Podcast

One of the more active areas, the 3-pont challenge, now quiet. Ironically a clock behind says "Never stop playing."

One of the more active areas, the 3-point challenge, is now quiet. Ironically the clock behind says “Never stop playing.”

They took the basketball hoop with them when they left.

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Alicia Stella

Alicia Stella has been covering new attractions since 2015, with her work cited by The New York Times, USA Today, CNN, and more. She specializes in reporting on new attraction development, and always looks forward to upcoming changes to the Orlando theme parks. She is also co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando.