How long will it take before people pack the stands at events, shoulder-to-shoulder, in the seats and in the concourses? Has this virus made you re-think attending things?
About 20 minutes, If the Dodgers played tomorrow and there were no restrictions they would fill the house. I can't imagine the pent up demand in 2 more months.
That's what I would think too, but some of the sports pundits are not so sure. Me? Business as usual... no problem. Now, if I was in NY or another city that has been hit hard, I'd think twice, for awhile.
I was sure to point that out, expecting a response like that. Still, I am not so sure, I think it depends on where.... I think NY will take longer to recover their fan base.
On the other hand, nobody was going to go to Red Sox games this year regardless. The team is a complete mess.
I think the Marlins couldn't tell the difference the week before opening day and the week after opening day! Social distancing would still work well there!
Chris Sale took some real flack here when he had elective Tommy John surgery earlier this week. I'm not sure if he deserved it or not because I don't know if that surgery took away resources that other people needed.
Paul, I have made all but two Fenway Opening Days since 2001. Last year 33 degrees and a blowing wind, misty and watched Sale in SHORT SLEEVES throw 2,000 pitches in the first four innings of a miserable day. Never again
Keith, yesterday was supposed to be opening day and the weather was about the same as last year, maybe 10 degrees warmer. Today would have been a rainout. I hope an outcome of this pandemic is they shorten the baseball season. Starting this early around here is ridiculous anyway.
They're fear mongering. I hear it daily from john Lopez on 610. People like to live in emotion instead of logic.
Listen, you sit there in a $500 seat, freezing your ass off drinking $ 10 bud light drafts, it SEEMS like 2,000 pitches, believe me
I have photographed many a game, I knew what you meant. Best seat in the house, never cost me a dime.
I think the factors will be: cities that had very bad CV19 outbreaks (NYC, LA, SF, Detroit, Miami) will have a reluctant live audience, but maybe they pick up ratings on TV/streaming cities that don't recover well economically. can't really say right now which ones that will or won't be. but lots of fans with no disposable income isn't a good situation for selling tickets
I heard this morning that a new poll shows that 70% of Americans will not attend any live sporting events until a Covid19 vaccine is readily available, which won't happen until sometime in 2021! Among other things, that would completely wipe out baseball and football this year, unless the teams are willing to play in empty stadiums.
That was my point with post #1. I think it depends on where you are, and what is going on in that area/city/state. Nebraska will fill the football stadium long before New York will.
PGA just announced their revised calendar. some events will be closed to spectators: https://www.pgatour.com/news/2020/04/16/pga-tour-schedule-adjustments-2019-2020-fedexcup-season-2020-2021-regular-season-coronavirus.html I suspect other leagues will start to follow with similar timelines/restrictions
I think that once enough testing kits are available to test all the people who are needed, as a bare minimum, to run NBA and NHL games - players, coaches, trainers, officials, announcers and essential arena personnel - they will resume playing in empty arenas, with spectators watching at home on television. They still may be able to do this year's playoffs, but maybe with only 8 teams and not 16. The same should be true for baseball, but for a shortened season, like 120 games. I know that the thought of pro teams playing in empty arenas or stadiums will not sit well with some, but until enough test kits are available for everyone, it will be the only way, and the ability to at least watch real sports on TV will be therapeutic for fans. Later in the year, if enough test kits become available, maybe they'll be able to let at least some fans actually attend games.
Leagues make their money - almost all of it - off TV revenue. And if the virus (supposedly) cannot survive above 80 degrees, then baseball and football can compete outdoors in hot climates. AZ, TX, Vegas, Fla...