Ice Cube’s BIG3 cancels 2020 season due to COVID-19
The BIG3 plans to return in 2021.
Ice Cube has decided to pull the plug on this year’s BIG3 basketball season due to COVID-19. The league released the official statement via Twitter.
“In the midst of the COVID-19 world pandemic and its uncontrollable nature, the BIG3 announced today season four will return in Summer 2021,” the statement read.
“The BIG3 always wants to deliver the best for our fans under safe conditions,” the statement continued. “Due to a confluence of issues including safety, uncertainty of testing, changing government regulations, insurance and liability issues, sponsor and advertiser challenges of their own and the changing nature of the virus itself, the decision was made to focus on a great return in 2021.”
Back in March, Cube revealed plans to launch a quarantined, reality show-style tournament for his league. The hypothetical tournament would’ve featured 16-22 players who tested negative for Coronavirus.
The players were going to be quarantined in a house, which would’ve been provided by the league. The daily lives of the players and their games were going to be filmed, much like that of a reality show. The production crew would’ve lived offsite, away from the players.
A basketball court was going to be built on site. If any of the players broke quarantine, they were to be immediately dismissed from the home and disqualified from playing. These plans, however, fell through.
“We tried everything in our power to give our fans a nice 2020 season, but with a long list of obstacles, we decided to shift our focus to having a great 2021 season with our fans in the stands,” Cube said in a statement. “Our goal from day one has always been to provide a remarkable experience full of top-level competition and entertainment… we will definitely come back with fire.”
Check out the official press release below.