In the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic there are so many questions and variables to when the country can go back to functioning as normally as possible. Seton Hall University took a poll recently asking 762 people across the country a series of questions regarding some very large pressing issues in the sporting world.
The NFL has continued to do business as usual. Free agency has been going on while the draft will happen in two weeks as planned, albeit a virtual one, which led SHU to ask if social distancing was still in effect when the NFL season was to start, should the season actually start? The majority said no, 70% of the polled believe that the players safety is more important than getting back on the field for their viewing pleasure.
Many leagues have kicked around the idea of having games, but no fans in the stands, as the people polled were asked if they would watch if this were to happen. More than 3 of 4 people would, 76% answered yes, that they would be just as interested as before the social distancing went into effect.
The majority of people believed that the leagues shut down in the correct time frame, as 76% said that sports were canceled at the proper time, while another 16% said it wasn’t fast enough. The Olympic committee was one of the last to cancel their athletic events and once again the overwhelming majority believe this was the right thing to do, with 88% of people polled agreeing with the committee.
We are in the middle of unprecedented times, and with no clear end point, no one really knows the direction we will take as a nation. I personally would love to see sports return, but only with the safety of the players and staff put first. If this is unable to happen, postponing or canceling seasons might just be in the best interest for everyone, even if it means not seeing our favorite pastimes anytime soon. How do you feel about this? Would you return to sporting events if a cure hasn’t been found? Do you feel comfortable for athletes to return to empty stadiums?