Defiant leagues plot return to action
While most sports take a wait-and-see approach, several prominent competitions around the globe are planning to return sooner rather than later.
At last, a ray of light at the end of the tunnel for deprived sports fans. While we are still a long way off from the professional sports calendar returning to normal, over the past two weeks a handful of professional competitions around the globe have firmed up plans to get back up and running.
Germany’s top-flight football league, leading mixed martial arts promotion, UFC, and the NRL were among those to announce return dates, while the Premier League – one of the most popular competitions in the world – is working towards a resumption early next month. The wait goes on from a local point of view, but a move to Covid-19 level two could open the door for some form of Super Rugby and the ANZ Netball Premiership to get under way.
It should be noted that a return for the sports mentioned (listed in chronological order) is dependent on government approval and access to medical support, with the prospect of fans attending slim to none. But with a bit of luck, there’s enough to suggest that the days of watching replays and (for the truly desperate) e-sports are, if not coming to an end, at least diminishing.
Mixed Martial Arts
UFC president Dana White had vowed to be the first major sport in the US to return and, despite a few setbacks along the way, he seems on track to deliver. The MMA promotion has announced plans to hold three cards in the space of a week in Florida on May 9, 13 and 16.
Efforts to hold an event on tribal land in California last month were scrapped when state officials expressed concern to the UFC’s broadcaster, ESPN. However, the promotion has found an opening in Florida, where pro sports with a national audience have been added to the list of essential services.
The events will be held behind closed doors in Jacksonville, but despite assurances from White around safety, there have been few details about the protocols in place. White is also pressing forward with plans to hold bouts on a private island outside the US for international fighters, but again has provided no details.
Motorsport
Similar to the UFC, Nascar is ready to make up for lost time after announcing seven events over 11 days from May 17.
The revised schedule includes a pair of midweek races, although it only goes through May, with a tentative schedule planned for June and beyond.
The US series’ announcement came a few days after Formula One chief executive Chase Carey said he was ‘‘increasingly confident’’ of getting the green light for a rearranged season of 15-18 races.
Beginning with the Austrian Grand Prix on July 5, the plan is to hold races across Europe through September before moving to Asia and the Americas in October and November. The season would then conclude the following month with two races in the Middle East.
Football
Ligue 1 became the first major European football league to cancel its season this week following an order from the French government, prompting fears those in Italy and Spain could follow suit. However, other leagues on the continent are pressing ahead with plans to resume behind closed doors.
Germany’s Bundesliga had pencilled in an ambitious restart date of May 9, although that has been delayed after the German government postponed its decision until this week. The league is still hopeful it can return before the end of May.
Facing losses of more than $2 billion if the season cannot be completed, the Premier League has ramped up plans to resume under what has been dubbed ‘Project Restart’. The aim is to restart the campaign after June 8 in neutral
stadiums, with the league holding separate talks with the UK government and its 20 clubs on Saturday (NZ time).
UEFA, the European governing body, has given domestic leagues a deadline of May 25 to inform them how they plan to complete the season.
Rugby League
Uncertainty over the Warriors’ involvement in the NRL was finally resolved on Saturday when they received clearance from the Australian government to enter the country. Combined with the NRL signing off on a shortened
20-round format this week, it’s full steam ahead for a May 28 restart.
The revised draw, which includes the two rounds already played, has the Grand Final scheduled for October 25, with the State of Origin series to be held in the weeks following.
Given the drama that has unfolded in recent weeks, we can’t be 100 per cent certain of a resumption until a ball is kicked. But the NRL appears to have passed all the major hurdles (so far), with the
16 clubs set to reconvene on Monday for a biosecurity briefing.
Golf
The US PGA Tour is aiming to restart the season in mid-June, with no fans attending at least the first four events and plans for Covid-19 testing to be conducted on site.
The rearranged schedule is set to consist of 14 tournaments, starting with the Charles Schwab Challenge from June 11-14 at Fort Worth, Texas and concludes with the Tour Championship in Atlanta, Georgia from September 4-7.
Only three of the four majors are scheduled to take place this year following the cancellation of the Open Championship. As it stands, the PGA Championship is still being held on August 6-9 although the US Open (September
17-20) and the Masters (November
12-15) have been postponed until later in the year.
The European Tour has yet to commit to a start date.
Rugby
When professional rugby does eventually return in this country, it’s likely to be in the form of a local Super Rugby competition. Although, fans may have to wait until the Government moves to alert level two before any official announcements are made.
Australia and South Africa are expected to run similar competitions, although the July test matches will almost certainly be postponed, with a North-South match and an All Blacks trial reportedly being discussed.
While the French Top 14 league has been cancelled, reports out of the UK suggest Premiership Rugby is working towards a July start date.
The competition has been suspended since March 16 but Sky Sports UK reported that Premiership Rugby were drawing up plans to play games behind closed doors in one or two venues, provided they could get access to on-site coronavirus testing.
Cricket
England could get the international cricket calendar back under way with news they are working to host the West Indies in a three-test series from July 8. That is followed by a three-test series against Pakistan in August, while they are also planning for a limited overs series against Australia the following month.
Given the amount of international travel involved, cricket has perhaps the most difficult task of returning to some sort of normality. But while the Black Caps’ winter tours are unlikely to go ahead, New Zealand Cricket at least has time on its side when it comes to the home summer schedule, which is not due to start until October.
Basketball
It’s only a small step but the NBA has permitted teams to reopen their practice facilities from May 8, if they play in a location where public health guidelines allow it.
There are several restrictions, including having only four players in a facility at one time, and the announcement did not come with a timetable on when games could resume. However, the league is reportedly considering a number of scenarios, including playing in empty arenas, shortening some playoff series and pushing back the start of next season.