for Santa Clara County
Keeping fans out of Levi’s is right decision
Welcoming live fans back to Levi’s Stadium for the 49ers’ next home game was a fine idea, except for one thing:
There’s this virus thing going around.
COVID19, some call it. It has killed more than 220,000 Americans, but some folks seem more concerned that it is putting a damper on football fever.
On Tuesday, the state of California issued a directive allowing pro sports teams to have fans at games, but Santa Clara County, which has final say, announced that no fans will be allowed at the 49ers’ games “any time soon.”
Some fans were not happy about the county’s decision. They hit Twitter as soon as the news was out, and the debate was on, in the usual respectful, analytical form of socialmedia discussion:
“Complete BS.” (@ nikkidelPraise
gado325)
“Boo hoo, the little privileged babies can’t go to a game during a pandemic.” (@ JCCarsonGWB) “Tyrants.” (@ JPShinn) “Also the same jackwagons that make announcers wear masks in the booth.” (@ Lincoln_ 100)
“F— You Santa Clara County.” (@ Bayareafan292)
My take: Bless you, Santa Clara County.
Jerry Seinfeld said football fans root for laundry. The laundry I root for is the white, starched lab coats of the scientists and health officials.
In dealing with the pandemic, the shutdowns and safety measures, Santa Clara County officials seem to be on the more cautious end of the spectrum. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they are evil agents of doom.
Either Santa Clara County health officials are Deep State operatives bent on destroying the county, or they are using the most relevant data they can get and making decisions to save lives and prevent further spread of the coronavirus.
It’s curious that some critics of the whitecoaters insist that the decisions are made for devious political purposes. It seems odd that a man or woman bent on a career of political manipulation would spend years of his or her life peering into microscopes and cadavers. Seems like a roundabout way of gaming the political system.
I have no clear indication of how the 49ers’ ownership and management feels about the county’s nofans directive. A guess: The 49ers would prefer to follow the state guidelines if they could. They could use the money, and the cheering. This could be another tiff between the city/ county and the team.
When the 49ers jumped into bed with Santa Clara many years ago, it looked like a torrid romance destined to last forever. What could go wrong?
The list is long. The only thing that has remained hot has been the sun at day games.
The two sides have had disputes over soccer fields, taxes, broken promises, management issues and crowd noise, to name a few items.
This is different. This isn’t about money or power as much as it is about life and death.
The state directive, shot down by Santa Clara, would have allowed the 49ers to let 13,700 fans into Levi’s Stadium, starting with the team’s next home game, Nov. 5 against the Packers.
Granted, 49ers fans are great at socially distancing. When the team was going bad, thousands would socially distance themselves by staying home. Those attending games left huge gaps of unfilled seats as they fled the sun, hiding out in the VIP tequila bunkers.
But even with 13,700 fans, onefifth capacity, social distancing would be problematic. Anyone who disagrees probably has not been to a lightly attended 49ers game during the losing years, when there was still plenty of shoulderrubbing and airsharing in restrooms and in beer lines.
This is an issue of safety not just for those who would attend the games, but also for those who could become infected if the games become superspreader events.
I would be 100% in favor of letting in fans, as long as they are required to remain at Levi’s until the pandemic is over. Bring a lot of beer money, those babies ain’t cheap.