ANDY AT THE BAT
GOV PUSHES TO REOPEN STADIUMS, BUT NO FANS
Gov. Cuomo says the state is ‘ready and willing to partner with sports teams’ as long as they follow safety rules and forget about fans for a while.
ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo is ready to play ball.
The governor said Monday the state is willing to help New York’s majorleague sports teams start planning their seasons without fans in the stands.
“New York state will help those major sport franchises to do just that,” Cuomo said during a briefing in Buffalo. “Hockey, basketball, baseball, football, whoever can reopen, we’re a ready, willing and able partner.”
All major sports leagues suspended or delayed their seasons as the coronavirus pandemic swept across the globe.
While he admitted that teams and leagues will have to make their own decisions about forgoing fan revenue, Cuomo offered the state’s assistance and said televising events could be a first step.
“Why wait until you can fill a stadium before you start to bring a team back? And if you can televise it in the meantime, great,” the governor said.
In recent days, Major League Baseball team owners signed off on a proposal they passed on to players that said clubs could resume spring training programs in June to prepare for a July start to the season.
The National Football League, meanwhile, released its upcoming schedule earlier this month, indicating the league intends to start its next season in September.
“I think this is in the best interest of all the people and in the best interest in the state of New York,” Cuomo said. “And then they’ll be up and running and when we can fill a stadium again, we can fill a stadium.”
The governor said he’s tiring of watching reruns of old games and is ready to cheer on his favorite teams, but made clear there’s no conflict of interest.
“Personal disclosure, I want to watch the Buffalo Bills,” Cuomo said. “but I’m still objective, I’m acting as governor, there’s no personal agenda here.
Yes, I do want to watch the Bills, but that is not subverting my role as governor,” he added.