We do not know the full extent of the Miami Dolphins’ 2020 regular season schedule yet, but there is one thing we do know — the team will be staying states side this fall. The NFL is angling to release their full 17-week schedule for the 2020 regular season at some point throughout the course of this week, but the first heavy hitting news of the league’s calendar is now known.
There will be no international series in 2020.
That’s big news for the Dolphins, as the team was aligned to surrender a 2020 home game this season in order to play abroad — a competitive disadvantage to play eight road games, seven home games and one neutral site contest. But amid the COVID-19 concerns across the country, the league is opting to align their 2020 schedule as such to avoid international travel.
The following statement from the NFL’s Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy & Growth Officer Cristopher Halpin revealed the decision:
“After considerable analysis, we believe the decision to play all our games domestically this season is the right one for our players, our clubs, and all our fans in the US, Mexico and UK. We greatly appreciate the support of our governmental and stadium partners in Mexico and the United Kingdom, who all agree with this decision, and we look forward to returning for games in both countries in the 2021 season. We also thank our incredible fans in those territories for their passionate support of the NFL. We will continue to serve them through our outstanding media partners and by being active supporters of both grassroots football and COVID-19 relief efforts in Mexico and the UK.”
And so the NFL will continue to forge forward with their schedule release, but with the concession that the international series will be discontinued for the 2020 season in an effort to optimize fan and player safety. The league is expected to drop their full schedule before the end of the week. The chance to play in front of a new, enthusiastic audience is a good one. But the silver lining of gaining and extra home game isn’t a bad one, either.