for display only
Big Blue Interactive The Corner Forum  
Back to the Corner

Archived Thread

Athletic: NFL preparing for fans in the stands

Eric from BBI : Admin : 7/1/2020 4:28 pm
Dan Duggan @DDuggan21

I've thought all along that there was no chance fans would be in the stands this season. But the NFL just keeps steamrolling toward a "regular" season. Now, I don't think fans can be ruled out as the league prepares to take these steps

Daniel Kaplan @KaplanSportsBiz

NFL wants fans in stadiums come September, but they might have to sign a Covid-19 waiver.
not happening  
Jints in Carolina : 7/1/2020 4:28 pm : link
.
I am sure that they are preparing for it  
JohnB : 7/1/2020 4:50 pm : link
And they are preparing for the stands to be 1/2 full, a 1/4 full and completely empty.

I'm sure they are planning for everything and will pick the right path when the time comes. But it'd be dumb not to plan.
Welp  
lugnut : 7/1/2020 5:01 pm : link
I will not be among them.
Sounds about right  
David B. : 7/1/2020 5:26 pm : link
The NFL will alway be on the side of making money. Get idiots to sign a waiver, and there will be SOME people in the seats instead of none.
Curious what % capacity they're thinking.  
Mad Mike : 7/1/2020 5:27 pm : link
Theoretically you could distance pretty effectively in a stadium, as long as the teams are willing to limit capacity enough. Security, bathrooms and concession lines (if they even had concessions) would probably be bigger problems than seating. I also have no idea at what point attendance is too low to justify the expense of staff, cleaning, etc....

Separately I'd be curious what % of ticketholders are opting out. Anecdotally, based both on discussion here and other people I know, it's a *lot*, but I'd be curious to see data And as more teams start to offer the opt-out, I'd be curious to see how it varies by team.
BREAKING NEWS  
Ben in Tampa : 7/1/2020 5:31 pm : link
NFL preparing for fans in stands

NFL preparing for game with no fans

NFL preparing for full season

NFL preparing for no season

etcetera etcetera
I can't believe the governors in key states will let  
David in Belmont : 7/1/2020 5:59 pm : link
there be any significant number of fans in the stands. States like NY, NJ, MD, MI, OH, CA, IL, WA and maybe MA, NC, PA. Plus who knows what the situation will be in other states by the fall.
Remember its not just about the idiots who will sign waivers to be in stands for NFL or college football, it's about the other people they will infect.
RE: Sounds about right  
uther99 : 7/1/2020 6:13 pm : link
In comment 14927474 David B. said:
Quote:
The NFL will alway be on the side of making money. Get idiots to sign a waiver, and there will be SOME people in the seats instead of none.


Agreed, people don't seem to care. You see the photos online of huge crowds with no masks at bars, pools etc. Younger people couldn't care less.
And if a minor signs a covid 19 waiver, will that bind him?  
Marty in Albany : 7/1/2020 6:31 pm : link
Bigger question: How would you know (or prove) that you got the virus at the game?

The NFL knew about the head injuries of it players and did nothing about it (I believe) until they were taken to court. One can only imagine how much the NFL cares about the health and safety of its fans.
Given what we know about how  
Metnut : 7/1/2020 6:37 pm : link
Covid spreads (mostly indoors), would 20% capacity at an nfl game really be high risk? Seems like concourses and bathrooms would be the hotspots.
I think they will  
Lines of Scrimmage : 7/1/2020 7:13 pm : link
certainly try with a lower percentage of fans and increase/decrease based on how it goes.

They will be looking at the deaths and death rate percentage in the next couple of months with things opening up in most states. Although the cases are really escalating the deaths have not been thus far. Is this better treatment, a less lethal virus or just people being better about protected the most vulnerable (and those vulnerable protecting themselves)? Or will the deaths catch up in the next couple weeks?
A hard pass for me.  
SFGFNCGiantsFan : 7/1/2020 7:32 pm : link
And I don't think I'm in the minority either.
RE: And if a minor signs a covid 19 waiver, will that bind him?  
Mike from SI : 7/1/2020 7:42 pm : link
In comment 14927521 Marty in Albany said:
Quote:
Bigger question: How would you know (or prove) that you got the virus at the game?

The NFL knew about the head injuries of it players and did nothing about it (I believe) until they were taken to court. One can only imagine how much the NFL cares about the health and safety of its fans.


I mean this in the least snarky and asshole way possible, but think for a second. It's 2020. Do you think the issue of minors signing waivers is novel?
2 of  
OC2.0 : 7/1/2020 7:46 pm : link
There biggest fans/ ticket holders( NFL Ticket/Red Zone) will be in their seats in the living room. 🍺
RE: Given what we know about how  
Danny Kanell : 7/1/2020 7:48 pm : link
In comment 14927524 Metnut said:
Quote:
Covid spreads (mostly indoors), would 20% capacity at an nfl game really be high risk? Seems like concourses and bathrooms would be the hotspots.


There are a lot of domes.

I’ve felt all along the NFL will find a way to play in front of fans. Probably at about 10-20% capacity.
My gues 25% capacity to start  
nygiants16 : 7/1/2020 7:55 pm : link
go up or down depending on how it goes...
Yeah right.  
BlueLou'sBack : 7/1/2020 8:05 pm : link
Sure.


Seeing is believing.
RE: I can't believe the governors in key states will let  
GiantsFan84 : 7/1/2020 8:08 pm : link
In comment 14927496 David in Belmont said:
Quote:
there be any significant number of fans in the stands. States like NY, NJ, MD, MI, OH, CA, IL, WA and maybe MA, NC, PA. Plus who knows what the situation will be in other states by the fall.
Remember its not just about the idiots who will sign waivers to be in stands for NFL or college football, it's about the other people they will infect.


I agree with this 100%. There will be some governors who simply won't allow it. I can't imagine Murphy would for instance.
Nothing says safety like signing a waiver  
widmerseyebrow : 7/1/2020 8:26 pm : link
.
Maybe the CBA requires them to make every effort to have a normal  
Ivan15 : 7/1/2020 8:29 pm : link
Season, or maybe they realize that if they have to call off the season, the Union will sue.
Good to hear  
joeinpa : 7/1/2020 8:41 pm : link
People should have some say in how they want to handle this virus. If you are afraid to go, don’t.

If you choose to go, respect others who do not want to be exposed to you

Wear a mask and social distance around the public and work place. Make certain family members know you are attending so they can make their own personal choice as to wanting to be in your presence

Protect those most vulnerable, nursing homes, assisted living.

NFL might only be motivated by $, but I m behind them here.
Miami Dolphins seemed to have a reasonable plan  
MetsAreBack : 7/1/2020 9:30 pm : link
a few months back. The leagues have done a lot more homework on this than most here have, including me, and I'm sure as others have noted they're playing it week-to-week and planning for all contingencies.

Nobody wants a PR nightmare of 5,000 fans, or pick a number, getting sick two weeks after a game and the media pointing to a football game, waiver or no waiver, as the root cause.

Right now this is just as the thread subject says - "preparation"... nothing more, nothing less
RE: Nothing says safety like signing a waiver  
NoPeanutz : 7/1/2020 9:40 pm : link
In comment 14927585 widmerseyebrow said:
Quote:
.

Exactly this. If they need a waiver, they won't be playing.
I’ve been cautiously optimistic that will have a season this year  
BUgiantfan : 7/1/2020 10:44 pm : link
but after spending today in Avalon, NJ, I’m 100% certain the season will be canceled. The restaurants were packed, no distancing at all, and not a mask in sight.

Don’t get me wrong- I think it is possible to have a season. We’re just too stupid to do what’s necessary to make that happen.
Agree with David  
Sneakers O'toole : 7/1/2020 11:18 pm : link
It's not in the league's hands, but in the hands of local and state governments.
I know it’s not popular to point this out  
Azul Grande : 7/2/2020 1:07 am : link
But Europe is basically on its way back to normal. some countries are basically reopening concert venues, sports venues, etc at up to 10k capacity, because the disease has burned out.

In US, many states have already burned the disease out. You could probably have a massive music festival and Central Park without leading to a problem in NYC at the moment, for instance, due to herd immunity in NYC.

By September even more states will be there. The current “outbreak states” are just experiencing the flattened curve we were all aiming for, and probably are similarly done by September or maybe October.
BU  
Bubba : 7/2/2020 6:25 am : link
Off topic but the restaurants were packed? Indoors? We are going to Avalon in Aug. with family. Stone Harbor too?
RE: I know it’s not popular to point this out  
Big Blue '56 : 7/2/2020 6:54 am : link
In comment 14927684 Azul Grande said:
Quote:
But Europe is basically on its way back to normal. some countries are basically reopening concert venues, sports venues, etc at up to 10k capacity, because the disease has burned out.

In US, many states have already burned the disease out. You could probably have a massive music festival and Central Park without leading to a problem in NYC at the moment, for instance, due to herd immunity in NYC.

By September even more states will be there. The current “outbreak states” are just experiencing the flattened curve we were all aiming for, and probably are similarly done by September or maybe October.


Is this a serious post?
They’ll be lucky to even have a partial season  
illmatic : 7/2/2020 8:18 am : link
with no fans. Let alone a full season with fans in the stands. There won’t be a season at the rate we’re going.
RE: I know it’s not popular to point this out  
GiantEgo : 7/2/2020 9:10 am : link
In comment 14927684 Azul Grande said:
Quote:
But Europe is basically on its way back to normal. some countries are basically reopening concert venues, sports venues, etc at up to 10k capacity, because the disease has burned out.

In US, many states have already burned the disease out. You could probably have a massive music festival and Central Park without leading to a problem in NYC at the moment, for instance, due to herd immunity in NYC.

By September even more states will be there. The current “outbreak states” are just experiencing the flattened curve we were all aiming for, and probably are similarly done by September or maybe October.


WOW. You should publish a paper on this "burning out" process.
RE: BU  
BUgiantfan : 7/2/2020 2:06 pm : link
In comment 14927698 Bubba said:
Quote:
Off topic but the restaurants were packed? Indoors? We are going to Avalon in Aug. with family. Stone Harbor too?


Bubba-

I’m staying in Stone Harbor and it’s similar. The ice cream parlor just closed down for a while because the workers were exposed.

The restaurants are packed outside- I couldn’t see well inside. Outside is less of a problem...unless you cram the tables so tightly that you are within 2 feet of strangers. No restaurant should be doing this and no customer should look at that and say, “this looks fine- I’m in!”

We’re staying at the house mostly and getting takeout. There’s no way I’m going into those restaurants for two reasons: I’m a doctor and see dozens of patients a day. I could be infected at any time and it would be irresponsible of me to go to a restaurant like that. Also, if I caught the virus there, I could potentially pass the virus on to dozens of people every day when I go back to work.
MLB, or at least the Yankees are also  
Matt M. : 7/2/2020 10:04 pm : link
Per an interview with Hal Steinbrenner today. They are preparing to have distanced seating.
Back to the Corner