Return schemes vary by the sport

NASCAR, UFC cite target dates while others are vague

It’s been more than seven weeks since the NBA and NHL seasons ground to a halt as Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.

The MLB’S regular season was set to start March26. Instead, the league shut down spring training two weeks before that date, pushing its opening day indefinitely into the future.

All three leagues are now in a holding pattern, trying to balance the rapidly changing public health situation with their economic considerations.

In the event the NBA and NHL are forced to cancel their playoffs, they’d be sacrificing their highest-earning period. If they find a way to return while Americans are still largely sequestered at home, there’s no doubt ratings would skyrocket. But reopening too soon could put players, coaches and anyone else involved at risk — and that’s not even considering the public backlash they may face.

Here is what we know about each sport’s potential return:

NASCAR

Officials announced Thursday that the stock car racing series plans to resume without fans in the stands on May 17. There will be four races over 10 days at Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway. The tracks will also host Xfinity and Trucks series races.

UFC

The top organization in mixed martial arts appears to be taking advantage of an at-home audience, planning to hold UFC 249 Saturday night on ESPN+ pay-perview. UFC president Dana White said the organization plans to hold fights on May 13 and 16, as well.

MLB

Major League Baseball is reportedly exploring

the possibility of opening a shortened season in late June or early July. Officials are optimistic that they could use an 80- or 100game schedule that would move the World Series into late November or early December.

The league had been looking into playing at spring training sites in Arizona but is now eyeing games in up to 20 team markets, though many questions remain about travel and opening the ballparks.

NBA

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has reportedly told teams he is focused on crowning a champion for this season, which was paused about a month before its end.

Fuel was added to that fire Friday when Silver announced that the upcoming draft lottery and amateur combine were being postponed.

The league initially was set to allow individual player workouts at team facilities beginning Friday in locations where that didn’t conflict with local restrictions. Amid confusion and backlash to that announcement, the NBA pushed that date back one week to May 8.

The NBA has reportedly investigated the possibility of creating a virtual “bubble” for players and essential personnel in Las Vegas or at Disney World in Orlando to finish out the season and playoffs. Despite optimism that the season will resume, officials have been coy about presenting any potential timeline.

NHL

The league announced this week that players may be able to resume smallgroup activities at training facilities by the end of May. Teams like the Sharks, who are located in an area under restrictions, likely could not do so.

The NHL is looking into bringing teams to divisional sites to train and potentially finish the season and playoffs. Sharks forward Evander Kane said on a podcast earlier this week that he has heard of hopes that the league may be able to resume in July or August.

NFL

The National Football League hosted its biggest offseason event just last weekend, as teams executed the league draft with all involved parties working from home.

No 2020 games have been rescheduled at this point as the Hall of Fame Game, the NFL preseason’s first game, is scheduled for Aug. 6. The regular season is set to open Sept. 10.

Offseason workouts are on hold for the time being. Team training camps are set to begin in July and the league has not yet announced any changes to that plan.

NCAA

College sports are also on pause in the pandemic, beginning with the cancellation of conference basketball tournaments, March Madness and all spring sports.

It’s not clear yet what effect the virus will have on fall sports such as football, but teams have been barred from in-person practices for the time being. Fall sports may well be moved back, and one potential scenario would include playing a shortened season that is just conference games, or football could even be pushed into the spring.

MLS

Major League Soccer announced Friday morning that players will be allowed to complete voluntary individual workouts at outdoor team facilities, provided local regulations allow for such activity. Only players receiving treatment can access team gyms, and locker rooms are off-limits.

As for returning to the 2020 season, the last official news from the league was an April 14 announcement saying a planned midmay return was “extremely unlikely.”

The Earthquakes played just two games before the season paused, earning one point with a season-opening tie against Toronto FC.