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Peter King, adding an As a source explained to
important caveat. "I didn't PFT, "that most likely would
say I was confident in 16 entail making specific
games with a bye, or what g a m e s a v a i l a b l e o n
week in February the Super Saturdays exclusively via
Bowl would be, or if every Amazon Prime or ESPN+,
team will play eight games in with streaming platforms
their home stadiums, or paying a premium for
whether there will be fans at content that would entice
every game. zealous NFL fans to in turn
"There's more information pay the premium necessary
that's needed before we to watch the games.
have these answers. Teams
are just going to have be
flexible.” Fans in stadiums
The NFL schedule and coronavirus: Others have offered
similar suggestions that a Goodell in a pre-draft
What to know about fans in stadiums, delayed start to the season interview with ESPN
tickets, COVID-19 testing & more for is on the table. PFT reported explained it's too early to
a delay of "a few weeks" speculate whether fans will
2020 season could be necessary "in order be able to attend games
to get to the point where the when the 2020 NFL season
governors of all states with begins. "We're going to the
sportingnews.com | BY TADD HAISLOP
NFL stadiums will agree to things we need to do to
opening the doors and make sure we're operating
After a slight delay from its developments in the coming letting anyone who chooses safely, and that includes our
usual release date, the 2020 weeks and months, there is to attend show up." (More on fans," the commissioner
NFL schedule arrived in an 'extremely small' chance fans in stadiums later.) said. "So if we can't bring
early May as a signal of the that there will be no NFL Sports Business Daily f a n s i n t o a s t a d i u m
league's optimism regarding season in 2020." reports the NFL could start environment without being
the upcoming season. Yet With the understanding the season October 15 and safe, then we'll look at those
the shadow of doubt the that a myriad of coronavirus- still have teams play full, 16- alternatives."
coronavirus pandemic has related factors will impact game slates. However, the NFL also
cast across all sports in the the NFL's plans in the The report also suggests remains focused on the
spring and summer remains coming months, below is the NFL could eliminate not preservation of competitive
in place as the NFL inches what we know now about the only bye weeks during the balance. Games without
toward what it hopes will be viability of the 2020 season season, but also the bye crowds early in the season
a complete autumn of pro and how the league intends week between conference followed by games with
football. to navigate the challenges. championships and the crowds later in the season,
For the most part, the NFL Super Bowl. It would then for example, might put the
for months has avoided the use those bye weeks to late-season road teams at a
procedural challenges 2020 NFL schedule push back the start of the disadvantage.
related to the COVID-19 season, and the Super Bowl Which likely is part of the
outbreak's arrival in the For now, the NFL plans to would be played Feb. 28. reason the NFL has "a
United States. Unlike s t a r t i t s s e a s o n a s King believes "it's possible strong preference for open
leagues that were in-season scheduled, with the 2020 the schedule gets pushed stadiums from Week 1,"
when the pandemic shut s e a s o n - o p e n e r o n back a week or four, and according to PFT, which also
down live sports, the NFL Thursday, Sept. 10, a maybe the byes eliminated. reports "the league currently
was able to proceed in a complete, 17-week regular ... It's also possible the is confident that, by the time
relative state of normalcy season and a full slate of league could choose to start football season rolls around,
with free agency and the playoff games before Super four weeks late and simply the situation will have
2020 NFL Draft, albeit Bowl 55 in Tampa Bay on kick off the schedule with the progressed to a point that
virtually. Sunday, Feb. 7. With the Week 5 games, beginning people will be able to make
But now it's football's turn exception of international Oct. 8, (then) take Weeks 1- informed decisions about
to face tough decisions games in London and 4 and put them on the last whether they want to attend
related to live action. Mexico City, which will not four weekends in January. games."
While the NFL's original be played in 2020, the NFL "That would keep the bye A primary issue pertaining
2020 schedule should be appears committed to week intact, which is likely to fans in stadiums is the
taken with a grain of salt sticking with its normal important because the v a r y i n g d e g r e e s o f
given the unpredictable schedule until somebody players union would fight to lockdown measures in
nature of the pandemic, the says it's impossible. keep the in-season week off different states and cities.
league appears cautiously Of course, the NFL can't be in place. In that scenario, Live-audience sporting
optimistic that the upcoming sure about how the effects of playoffs would begin Feb. 6 events in California, for
season will play out on the coronavirus pandemic with the Super Bowl on Feb. example, will not be
schedule and, if things will evolve in months, weeks 28." permitted until Stage 4 of the
proceed the way the NFL or even days. Which is why The Super Bowl's flexibility state's reopening plan.
expects, with fans in m u l t i p l e p o t e n t i a l is key. According to ESPN, it California was moving into
stadiums. contingency plans are being "could be pushed back by Stage 2 of that plan as of
From Pro Football Talk: considered. weeks or even a couple of M a y 4 , b u t m a n y
"Per sources with direct "I'm very confident of a 16- months, potentially, while c o r o n a v i r u s - r e l a t e d
knowledge of both the NFL's game season with a Super n o t h a v i n g t o m a k e variables make the time
deliberations and the Bowl in February,” sports s i g n i f i c a n t m a t c h u p frame for the process
current and expected business consultant Marc changes to the regular- impossible to predict.
medical and scientific Ganis told NBC Sports' season schedule."
