= I'll say this, I'm surprised how little the lack of fans is bothering me in hockey and basketball; I have a bigger issue with the NBA pumping in a ridiculous level of crowd noise (particularly ABC's Sunday broadcast), but overall the sports have done a decent job making these closed spaces feel just like that
= The indoor sports do have an inherent advantage, one the NBA has done tremendously with, in making it seem like we are watching a movie or shared play; instead of playing in front of a void of emptiness like we have in baseball
= Basketball created the best atmosphere, with the play on a stage like view of it all, the empty stands completely hidden. It is an excellent visual look. But then why the hell are they ruining it with the fakest of crowd noise? The low murmur used throughout the NHL broadcasts is probably good enough. Instead, basketball had this ludicrous volume of sound. Hey NBA? We know there are no fans, we just want some noise so it isn't basketball shoes squeaking
= It's amazing how competitive most of these NBA games are. Granted, we've removed the eight worst teams, but it is still amazing how well the players and teams have reacted to this environment. So far, very few blowouts, and a few great surprises.
= There was a lot of consternation around inviting teams outside the top-8 in each conference, but amazingly those teams (Wizards aside) have been good. The Spurs are potentailly going to extend their playoff stream - somehow - and then the Suns have taken off. The Grizzlies, a great story all year, may not hold on. Yes, this was all a ruse to make sure Zion Williamson gets into the bubble (similar to the NHL conveniently upping to 24 to get Montreal and Chicago), but it worked out pretty well for them.
= As for the NHL, I'm surprised how little annoyed I am by the lack of fans. There's a nice little murmur, and more than enough action. Anyway, the crowd only truly livens it up in big moments - similar to soccer which I feel wasn't too impacted by the lack of crowds. The hockey so far has been excellent particularly in the play-in series.
= I do think there is a noticeable lack of energy and pointedness in the round-robin games. The NHL did its best by making the seeding depend on it, but you still don't get the sense the teams care - and given there is no 'home-ice' maybe they are right.
= Overall, the NHL and NBA have made the most of a bad situation. I do wish the NHL took this chance to market themselves a bit better. The NBA Bubble Life has been amazing to watch, from the start with bags and shotfunning beer, to so much more. Its NBA meets Real World and it was excellent. The NHL had so little of that - and we wonder why we don't find the personaities compelling
= All in all, more to come when the real playoffs start - and after so long on wondering if this would be a big failure, I'm confident it will start
