For the first time, the NFL has taken measures to combat the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the country.
On Monday, the league has decided to cancel all “public events” relating to the 2020 NFL Draft in Las Vegas, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo:
The NFL will proceed with its Draft on Apr 23-25 but will canceled public events in Las Vegas. The league is exploring innovative ways for how the process will be conducted.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 16, 2020
As per the report, the is still slated to go on, but will likely be in a “quarantined” type of manner. The CDC announced on Sunday that such events that are slated to have 50-plus people n attendance over the next eight weeks should be cancelled or postponed. That timeline of two months would creep into early May, and the draft gets going in late April, so it’s clear the NFL is taking such guidelines seriously. It remains to be seen how the draft in conducted.
Last week the Buffalo Bills were among the first NFL teams to recall all their scouts and coaches working across the country to help combat the outbreak of the coronavirus.
The NFL released a statement on the draft and did say the draft will still be televised, though.
“This decision reflects our foremost priority – the health and safety of all fans and citizens,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said via a statement. “While this outcome is disappoint to both the NFL and to the Las Vegas community, we look forward to partnering with the Raiders, the City of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for a future NFL Draft.”
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