The NFL still hopes to start its 2020 season as originally scheduled in September, but like the other major sports leagues, things could change quite drastically due to the coronavirus pandemic.
If that happens, the league is considering changes that would include “a potentially shortened schedule, holding games in empty or partially filled stadiums, and moving or rescheduling games if necessary,” according to the Washington Post.
“I don’t know if it’ll be a one-third-filled stadium, a half-filled stadium or whatever,” a person familiar with the league’s planning told the newspaper on Wednesday. “The NFL is planning for everything from playing without fans to playing in full stadiums. We know there will be a push from the [federal] government to open things up.”
“As we have said, we are committed to protecting the health of our fans, players, club and league personnel, and communities,” the NFL said in a statement issued to the Post. “We look forward to the 2020 NFL season, and our guidelines and decisions will be guided by the latest advice from medical and public health officials, as well as current and future government regulations. We will continue to plan for the season and will be prepared to adjust as necessary, just as we have done with free agency, the draft, and now the offseason program.”
California Gavin Newsom has already stated that he doesn’t think fans will be allowed in stadiums for sporting events for the remainder of 2020. That would drastically affect the Chargers and Rams who were scheduled to open up their new stadium later this year.
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The NFL schedule for 2020 is slated to be released around May 9 and is “being done in such a way that builds in that flexibility,” the source added.
“As we have said, we are committed to protecting the health of our fans, players, club and league personnel, and communities,” the NFL said in a statement. “We look forward to the 2020 NFL season, and our guidelines and decisions will be guided by the latest advice from medical and public health officials, as well as current and future government regulations. We will continue to plan for the season and will be prepared to adjust as necessary, just as we have done with free agency, the draft, and now the offseason program.”
