» MLB, NFL COULD SEE FANS AT TITLE GAMES
Fans will be able to attend the World Series and the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, according to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.
Manfred told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale that pending approval from Gov. Greg Abbott, fans will be in attendance. How many fans and ticket information have yet to be announced but details are expected soon. The Texas Rangers opened the 40,300-seat, retractable-roof stadium this season but have been unable to welcome fans because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are pressing ahead to have fans in Texas,” Manfred said. “One of the most important things to our game is the presence of fans. Starting down the path of having fans in stadiums, and in a safe and risk-free environment, is very, very important to our game.”
Globe Life Field will host two National League Division Series, including the No. 1 seed vs. the No. 8 seed and No. 4 vs. No. 5. No. 2 vs. No. 7 and No. 3 vs. No. 6 will be played at Minute Maid Park in Houston. The ALDS will be played Oct. 5-9.
The NLCS begins Oct. 12 at Globe Life field and will air on Fox or FS1. The ALCS will be at Petco Park in San Diego beginning Oct. 11 and air on TBS.
MLB expanded its playoffs to a 16team format in 2020 for the pandemic-shortened 60-game regular season. Fans have not been able to attend any regular-season games and, as of now, will not be able to attend division series games either.
“The inability of our fans to enjoy the in-ballpark experience is probably my biggest disappointment,” Manfred said. The players have been poignantly honest about the significance of having fans in our ballpark and their importance. It emphasizes the bond between our fans and our players.”
Manfred told USA Today that he expects to be on hand for the World Series where the commissioner typically presents the championship trophy to the winner.
“Honestly, I think this World Series championship is going to be special,” Manfred said. “I think the team that comes through proves they not only prevailed over all clubs, but prevailed over a much bigger challenge in terms of this pandemic.”
No fans at Super Bowl 55? Anything is possible
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Bucs have started this season with no fans in the stands at Raymond James Stadium. Is it possible Super Bowl 55, slated for Feb. 7, will be fanless as well, or at least not played before a full-capacity crowd?
The NFL certainly is looking at contingency plans if the current coronavirus pandemic hasn’t subsided by early next year.
“Well, we certainly have to prepare for that,” said Jonathan Barker, head of live events and production for the NFL. “Our hope is going to be to fill this stadium with fans. That’s our hope. But the smart thing to do is to prepare just in case. If we find ourselves on Feb. 7 where we’re in different scenario, we’re going to just make sure we’re ready for that.”
Barker, along with Nicki Ewell, the NFL’s director of events, toured Raymond James Stadium on Tuesday morning for the first time this year.
The Bucs, who played without fans in this past Sunday’s home opener against the Panthers and will do the same Oct. 4 against the Chargers, have said they hope to begin admitting some fans by Oct. 18’s home game against the Packers.
Earlier this month, Gov. Ron DeSantis was displeased by the Bucs’ decision not to open the season with fans, afraid it would foster negative perceptions about Tampa’s readiness to hold the Super Bowl.
“I really want to be able to show that Tampa is going to be a great place to host the Super Bowl,” DeSantis said. “Showing this community is ready to host a great Super Bowl, having some fans there would’ve been a good first step. It’s not where we need to be.”
The Tampa Sports Authority had been planning for reduced seating capacities at the stadium of around 14,000 for Bucs games. USF, which plays its home games at the stadium as well, also has not announced when fans will be permitted.
Raymond James Stadium received approximately $10.4 million in federal funding through the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act for upgrades and safety enhancements. The modifications, everything from touch-free toilets and sinks, hand sanitizing stations and signs, were about 75% complete going into this season.
Safety for fans, players and staff will be the biggest priority for Super Bowl 55, Barker said.
“The league over the last few months has done all the work necessary to get all our clubs and teams up and ready for the season and we’re going to apply the same thinking as we approach Super Bowl,” he said. “Working in accordance with infectious disease experts, our own medical experts, the CDC, local health here in Hillsborough County, making sure everything that we do is in compliance with CDC guidelines first and foremost.
“But it’s also important to understand the safety of our fans, the safety of our vendors and volunteers and everybody who’s going to work the Super Bowl and come to the Super Bowl, is paramount to our success. That’s why we’re taking all the necessarily precautions to make sure the Super Bowl is done in a very safe way.”
Barker acknowledged that COVID-19 could significantly reduce the economic impact of hosting a Super Bowl locally.
“Certainly, the economic impact is important and it’s 100s of millions of dollars,” Barker said. “... To be able to qualify that number for you today is impossible to do.”