Fans who attend NFL games this season will be required to wear face coverings, per an announcement from the league’s public relations department. The rule will apply for all 32 teams, and every stadium, even if local laws do not call for it.
Several teams have already announced a mask requirement for fans, so the league-wide motion doesn’t come as a major surprise. Given the potential safety hazard, legal liabilities, and public optics involved, this is, realistically, the only way for the league to have fans in the stands this season.
Without fans in the seats, the NFL expects to lose somewhere between $2 billion and $4 billion in revenue. In theory, some of that could be offset by company-branded banners covering the empty seats, but the rest of the league’s usual advertising and sponsorship streams will be greatly depressed until the economy rebounds. In short – only fans in the seats can help to fill that gap.
The owners are pushing players to absorb a proportional amount of the hit, but the NFLPA is pushing back. Even as the players fight for the safest work environment possible, they also recognize the fiscal importance of gate attendance.
The mask mandate, coupled with limited capacity seating, may improve the chances of fans being able to attend games, but it guarantees little. Ultimately, the COVID-19 case rates, ICU numbers, and local laws will have final say over what the NFL can and cannot do.
If there can be 20,000 people at a protest the nfl should be able to atleast have that in there stadiums. The hypocracy needs to stop. Leave it up to the fans. If they are worried about going then stay home. If they want to go let them go.
Yeah no. There’s absolutely no excuse to not wear a mask. Doctors and nurses can wear masks all day. You don’t wanna wear a mask? Watch from home. “But muh freedom” Frick your freedom, it’s because of the *ssholes that have refused to wear masks that I still don’t have the freedom to go where I want. Stop being selfish. Wear a god darn mask or go to a different planet PLEASE.
what did he say about mask? also the same people screaming about mask now are the ones who screamed 3 months ago not to wear mask. he is literally arguing for your right to choose to go out and risk things or not. the science behind the effectiveness of lockdown vs heard immunity won’t be settled for some time as it will take at least a year to find out from multiple peer reviewed studies which country or states came out better and all the contributing factors. anyone saying they know is lying. new Yorks death rate per capita during lockdown was glaringly larger than say sweeden. Floridas record case levels have not lead to a death rate or total deaths near that of New York. no one can say they know 100 percent why. California has barely left lockdown and seen huge spikes. there is now a different form of covid virus being seen in the US. they aren’t sure what it is compared to the European version which first hit new york or the Asian version first seen in Washington. shaming each other does nothing productive and you may be proven completely wrong by the end of this or this disease may never leave and become a new variation of common covid strains we already deal with. it’s frustrating and annoying but relax.
by the way his point on hypocrisy is well taken for me.
Wearing a mask or not wearing a mask is a construct of belief. Stop pushing beliefs onto to others and allow them to choose to wear one or not. It’s an individual’s choice to wear one or not.
You dumb
Statist.
Point of fact: you still have the freedom to go where you want. You only have to assume the risks that go with it. For instance, it might be interesting to walk through downtown Portland but you take a risk of physical attack from ANTIFA or one of the “wannabes” that roam the area. The reason you have all this anxiety cannot be attributed to those who do not want to be masked but rather to your fears. But it is okay. If masks are deemed mandatory for viewership by the NFL/BLM League rules, then a mask must be worn. Or no entrance to the stadium seats.
Worry about yourself!!!
People that don’t want to wear a mask are a bunch of clowns anyway!
I know there are lots of high fives inside the bubble about what a great talking point this is, but…
When you equate as equally important the protesting of minority deaths by people paid by tax dollars with…going to the beach…or watching sports in the stands…you reveal something about yourself…but don’t worry, it’s something everyone already knows.
“If I can go to grocery store, why can’t I go to Disney World?”
I agree! Let people decide for themselves !
Theirs no scientific evidence that a mask and 6 feet will save you. If you can fart and it goes through your clothing , why not the mask; again no scientific evidence, we either have covid in us from the past
Just play divisional games this year. Then playoffs like usual. Super bowl somewhere between the two cities. Done. Players get paid per game. Forfeit for games not played(the non divisional games). They play less. Get paid less. Everyone wins. If fans show up, they forfeit the right to sue anyone if they do get Covid. It is at YOUR OWN RISK just the same as it is going anywhere outside of your home. I just made this up on the toilet and the NFL knew about this for how long? Let’s go.
Mandatory mask…..until you eat or drink…..then feel free to take it off.
Exactly.
They can base mask off time by the dollar amount you spend for food and drink. Bring your own in better get creative on how you you ear it. No mask off time for you.
This will be difficult to enforce beyond the entry gate. The stadium operators will have to employ dozens of extra security to deal with fans not wearing a mask through the concourse areas.
Restrooms are already an absolute CF of people packed in, go ahead and put X’s on the floor. Maybe separate in/out doors should have been a common design.
Oh and go ahead and add dozens more security to be in the stands looking for fans not wearing a mask and clearly not in the middle of eating a $6 hot dog and washing it down with a $10 beer.
How often will all of the extra stadium security personnel need to be Covid tested?
“No shoes, no shirts, no service” never lead to cries of “TYRANNY!!!!!!!!!!!”.
I guess there was never a need to retroactively cover anyone’s backside.
The NFL, as a private business, has the right to require masks in order to consume their product.
It’s the same reason they can refuse to employ Kaepernick, remember? Private business.
Nice non-sequitur.
Given the potential safety hazard, legal liabilities, and public optics involved, this is, realistically, the only way for the league to have fans in the stands this season.
Emphasis on LEGAL LIABILITIES