As record coronavirus case numbers continue to emerge in numerous states housing NFL franchises, the league the NFLPA remain in discussions on a number of COVID-19-related matters ahead of training camps. One key element in these talks: attendance.
The NFL has gradually come around to the fact this will not be an optimal attendance season but does not appear ready to concede fans will not be in stadiums. The league does not envision a uniform policy regarding attendance and is instead planning to leave it up to states to decide which teams can have spectators at venues, Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic reports (subscription required).
The league has communicated to teams they will need to follow local COVID-19 protocols, which have varied from state to state since the pandemic surfaced in the country. This could well mean teams will be permitted to separately set attendance limits this season, as opposed to the league putting the kibosh on fans attending all games.
“Attendance will be a state-by-state, county-by-county thing,” an NFL source told Kaplan. “It will not be a one size fits all. I wish they would push back the start of the year to October to give us more time to learn from these other leagues.”
The NFL has launched a stadium reopening task force that is expected to issue recommendations by next week or early next month, Kaplan adds. A team-by-team attendance plan would create some issues. Competitive advantages for certain teams would obviously be one of them, with the potential risk of fans attending games during a pandemic certainly dwarfing that concern. But the ramifications of a fan-less season would be significant. However, the NBA’s 2020 resumption setup will not feature fans. Major League Baseball
A loss of at least $3 billion would hit the NFL if fans could not attend games all season, which has prompted the NFL and NFLPA to discuss how to handle the 2021 salary cap. Around a third of the league’s teams have had someone test positive for the virus. This remains a delicate, fluid situation that has coaches uncertain on the logistics of the season. Florida and Texas have seen record surges over the past several days, and these states — which house five NFL franchises between them — were some of the first to indicate sports would reopen. Several other states with teams are now in the same boat regarding record coronavirus numbers.
What about a kneeling policy?
There already is one! Kneel if you choose to do so. Hopefully the entire league chooses to do so!
On your neck
Sounds like your in law enforcement! Murder anyone lately?
I will never get on my knees because someone thinks its cool.
Has nothing to do with being cool! It’s about protesting a country that continually allows police to murder its own citizens without punishment.
I kneel for no man…..
Come up with an original idea that does not involve the National Anthem.
Your missing the point! Players who kneel are protesting the ENTIRE nation’s lack of outrage and action. The National anthem is literally the nation’s song!
So it is about the flag
No not really, in fact it’s not really even about the anthem!
It’s about protesting the country and it’s apathy to the injustices and corruption committed by law enforcement and the legal system.
Things like the anthem or flag are simply symbols or representations of country and it’s citizens.
For me I’m actually way past the point of peaceful or symbolic protests! Violence and unrest seem to be the only thing that opens people’s eyes to bring about change. So I say burn some shh down!
For me I’m actually way past the point of peaceful or symbolic protests! Violence and unrest seem to be the only thing that opens people’s eyes to bring about change. So I say burn some shh down!
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I am interested in how you plan to initiate this since it’s a reply to an article on “Attendance Policies” in the NFL.
Yes….use hate and racism to fight the same evil…that’ll work wonders.
Cool.. Come for my house and you won’t be living long.
You are the type of person who thrives on illegal behavior to solve solutions but offer nothing to the table because you are a complete idiot…..
Because we don’t care when horrible people like George Floyd and the guy from Atlanta finally get what’s coming to them.
BS…. Black on black crime including shootings and murders lead statistics in almost every city. You want to blame the few bad and criminal cops then fine but you are part of the problem. The cops were arrested and charged. How about facing the real issues and quit blaming the police? You wouldn’t last a day doing their job.
So you’re saying you’ll happily get on your knees? As long as nobody else thinks it’s cool? Gotcha.
Why does everyone here waste their time talking to a troll?
His posts get deleted on Hoops Rumors. Just ignore him you fools.
U just went to 3 posts to say the same thing
Not an issue the chargers have to worry about.
“ As record coronavirus case numbers continue to emerge in numerous states..”
Overall numbers have been steadily decreasing since the peak in April, yes some states have a very recent increase while the majority continue downward. That isn’t as exciting as the other narrative to some though.
Cases are increasing in 29 states and US territories, with nine states reporting record average highs, and Arizona reporting one in five tested are infected. If the overall numbers are still steadily decreasing, it’s probably because some of the worst hit states are also being the most cautious about re-opening.
If you look at total cases perhaps but with testing increased exponentially that number alone doesn’t carry a lot of weight. The data showing the overall picture paints a much different story. Deaths, hospitalizations, ICU numbers, % positive, etc. means much more than the amount testing positive.
Hope you’re right.
15 million calls to 911 have been received since May 25th. Thats……15 MILLION. Deaths are extremely rare at the hands of law enforcement. Do your homework.
Allowing the Miami Dolphins to have half the stadium filled with fans is considered a sellout….