Wow, this is a huge topic! I’m not sure if we are gonna have a NFL season this year because of the global pandemic. I mean, it’s kind of crazy to think that sports, like football, have been put on hold because of this virus. Even if the virus is more under control, I’m sure the NFL is mulling over the safety protocols that they would have to put in place so that any potential season isn’t cancelled due to another wave, or even ongoing coronavirus surges.
My heart aches when I think that I won’t be able to go to games with my friends, or just cheer on my favorite teams from afar. While some other sports leagues are able to play though, like the NBA and NHL, the NFL doesn’t really have the same logistical opportunity to pull of a season. After all, you can’t just put 22 players in a bubble like the NBA did. Also, the NFL already has had much tougher safety protocols in place due to the nature of the game and how prone to injury players are, so they need to figure out ways to protect the players even more than usual.
At the same time, there is a new trend in stadium technologies, which could help make it easier, and much safer, to hold games. For instance, Pay By Phone technology, which is currently becoming popular in many stadiums, allows for low, contactless ticket scanning and secure payments. While this technology is great for when the sport is normal, it can also be incredibly helpful in times of coronavirus by making it easier for fans to buy tickets and enter the stadium quickly without having to touch anything.
It’s definitely a tough call, and the decision will need to be made soon, but from what I can see it’s most likely going to depend on whether or not the virus is under control by the time the scheduled season is set to begin. There’s still a lot of questions that need to be answered, and there’s still concerns over the numerous protocols it’ll take to pull of a full season.
I think that the NFL has to weigh all of the options carefully, and figure out the best course of action that will both protect players and staff, and still give fans what they want. I’m just a fan, but I’m hoping the NFL will be able to make the tough decisions to have a successful season this year, and I’m sending my best wishes to everyone in football for health and safety.
First, the impact of coronavirus on the NFL as a sports league has put a tremendous amount of pressure on the players, coaches, staff, and owners. It’s no secret that team owners, including Steve Ballmer of the Los Angeles Clippers, Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, and Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots, have put a year of huge financial investments into their teams and stadiums. So with the possibility of a season being cancelled, the amount of money they have already put in is at risk.
Second, hard decisions will need to be made in order to ensure the safety of players and staff knowing the risk of getting tested and players going in and out of quarantine between games. Testing protocols would need to be created and monitored, and potential travel restrictions would have to be worked around. The NFL would also have to make sure stadiums are safe for both home and away teams, and to guarantee the same level of safety for all teams, regardless of their cities.
Third, the COVID-19 pandemic might push the NFL to consider innovative ways of having games that don’t require physical proximity. It could be possible to hold virtual games, or esports contests where players compete remotely against one another from different locations or even just Beck to their own homes. The reaction to this could be interesting, as there is already a large and passionate fanbase for esports in the NFL.
Finally, whether or not the NFL decides to move forward with a season this year, the future of the sport is uncertain. It’s likely that fans will have to wait and see how the health situation develops before a decision is made, but even if a decision is made, what about next year? Will the NFL blitz through and make it happen again next year, or will it take a safer approach and choose to wait longer?
At this point, it is clear that more and more teams are returning to competitive football. The NFL, NCAA, and high school teams across the country are making plans to open their respective fields and stadiums across the country. For some teams, the coronavirus is proving to be more of a challenge than it is for others. With the virus still a major concern, the league will have to be certain that all players, coaches and staff are safe from the start of any season.
To ensure this, the NFL will need to lay down restrictions on attendance. Social distancing measures and masks will be necessary for any crowds allowed to attend games, with extra cleaning and sanitizing measures put into place throughout the stadiums. Fans would likely have to keep a particular distance from others when entering and exiting the stadium, and even between seats.
The NFL will also have to consider fan safety when travelling to away games. The league may need to work with local health department and local authorities to work out protocols for delivering the best, and most responsible, fan experience. With travel restrictions in place, many fans may decide not to travel at all, making it challenging to allocate tickets to those fans who are still eager to attend a game.
Additionally, teams will need to have contingencies in place for when a player or coach tests positive. All players and coaches will need to be tested for Covid-19 regularly, and contact tracing should be employed to ensure that any individuals who have been in contact with a positive are isolated. In addition, protocols should also be put into effect for players and coaches who exhibit any symptoms of the virus. To much surprise, a number of teams have already implemented these measures and have been successful.
The safety of its players and the rest of the league’s personnel is of the utmost importance for the NFL, and they will have to work quickly to devise a safe and secure system for everyone if they are to have a successful season. The league will need to consider a range of issues, such as seating arrangements, travel restrictions, and alternative ways for fans to participate in the game.
However, the return of football is positive for many fans who have missed the sports. Fans are hopeful that the league will adhere to as many safety protocols as possible in order to ensure the second half of the year will be filled with plenty of football action. As the demand and anticipation for the sport is high, the league will need to work to bring together all the individual and collective concerns into consideration in order to make a safe decision.
The decision to move forward for a season, or not, will come down to the NFL weighing the level of risk versus the benefits of a full season. With a high demand from the fans and broadcasters (and their contractual obligations), teams wanting to get back to competitive football, and the league needing to allocate the proper safety protocols in place to protect all parties involved; the decision is still aimless and up in the air.
Therefore, the NFL will need to make a decision soon, otherwise the entire season might be scrapped due to the ongoing uncertainty and risk of Corona-related outbreaks and new variant strains of the virus. As a fan, I’m hoping that a triumphant return is made, but we’ll have to wait and see what the league decides to do.
The NFL has been exploring many different scenarios that can help the league reopen safely. This includes the possibility of teams competing in geographically-friendly divisions, as well as shortening the season to just twelve or thirteen games. It’s likely that the teams will need to be re-aligned into sequester-friendly divisions in order to reduce the amount of travel between teams; or consideration of games without fans.
Players and coaches will need to be aware of mask-wearing etiquette, taking the necessary steps to quarantine and social distance when on the road or meeting new people. With sizes of squads set to be reduced, it might be difficult to find enough coaches and replacements for any team suffering from corona-related injustices.
The league will also need to come up with a strategy for how to fill stadiums if only a limited number of fans are allowed to attend. It could be possible that teams adjust ticket prices to accommodate the current situation, taking into account the new safety protocols required, or decide to go with a virtual-only structure.
The league will need to also come up with new ways to broadcast the games and keep fans engaged. This could include virtual streaming, new digital board designs that reflect the current situation, or a combination of traditional and virtual methods to broadcast games.
As a fan, I’m hoping the league will eventually come up with a satisfactory solution that will allow for a successful season. But with the current situation in flux and the virus still at large, it’s hard to tell just what the league will decide to do. Until then, I guess we’ll have to wait and see.