For the first time in a while during the ongoing pandemic, sports fans are showing excitement over the possibility that live games could be played here soon.
The NFL is set to release its 2020 schedule Thursday afternoon in a much-hyped three-hour nationally televised broadcast. The league firmly believes its season will be played according to plan starting in mid September. Recent reports even suggest that fans could be in an attendance.
Having shown himself to be extremely conservative when it comes to talking about opening his state up to sports, California Governor Gavin Newsom doubled down on that Thursday.
In remarks during his daily briefing, the governor indicated that he’s find it hard to believe sporting events will be played with fans in attendance in California until a COVID-19 vaccine is created and there’s widespread immunity to the virus.
This is a similar stance to what Newsom took last month when countering President Trump’s stance that the NFL season should start with fans in attendance.
At this point, it’s all up to the states. California has three NFL teams in that of the Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. If other states are allowing fans in attendance while California isn’t, it could lead to a competitive disadvantage for these three squads.
To a lesser extent, the baseball world could be impacted. Recent reports suggest that MLB is looking to start its season in early July. Though, said games would not be played with fans in attendance in the first place.