Multiple NFL teams have already announced that they will not host fans during the early portion of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We’ve seen some complain about the lack of a league-wide rule regarding fans. Most notably, the Minnesota Vikings don’t seem to be too happy. That makes sense in that the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys are both planning on having some fans in attendance this season.
There’s going to be issues as it relates to competitive balance. That’s especially true when it comes to teams who normally have big-time home-field advantages, such as the Philadelphia Eagles. That makes Thursday’s news even more interesting.
Eagles announce no fans in attendance until further notice
Lincoln Financial Field holds nearly 70,000 fans. It’s among the loudest environments in the professional sports world. It’s also going to be eerie to watch Philadelphia host the Los Angeles Rams for its home opener Sept. 20 without fans in attendance.
How is the NFL’s fan policy going to impact the 2020 season?
It’s a major question with two weeks remaining until the start of the regular season. Only one team has officially announced that it will not have fans in attendance throughout the duration of the 2020 NFL season. That comes in the form of the Las Vegas Raiders in their new off-strip location.
Related: News and information about Raiders’ new Vegas stadium
The NFL is definitely stuck between a rock and a hard place here. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government here in the United States has relied more on local and state leaders to set policy. Add in the differing nature of the pandemic by region, and the issues are widespread.
It’s going to be extremely interesting to see how all of this unfolds during the early portion of the 2020 NFL regular season. For now, most teams have simply decided to announce that they won’t be hosting fans for their first few home games. How the pandemic looks following the first few weeks of the season will tell us a lot here.
For now, fans will not be able to watch their beloved Eagles play in Philadelphia for the immediate future. That’s a bummer.