The NFL will officially announce the 2020 regular season schedule on Thursday night during a three-hour special, and it may not be long after that we begin to see team facilities reopening.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to all 32 clubs on Wednesday advising them to have reopening procedures in place by May 15.
Team facilities have been closed since March as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but with states beginning to ease their restrictions, the NFL wants to ready itself for business.
In the leaked memo, Goodell notes that the first group of employees permitted to return would be 50% of non-player staff with a maximum of up to 75 per day. Players who were also rehabbing at team facilities prior to the lockdown would also be permitted to return.
Currently, the league is working with the NFLPA on what would be considered “Phase 2” of this reopening and when that would occur, but no additional details have been finalized.
The memo also states that any reopening would need prior consent from state and local officials, and would also require teams to stock up on cleaning and sanitizing materials, the creation and implementation of an infection-response team, the designation of a infection control officer and coronavirus safety training for anyone returning to team facilities.
Social distancing will also be required for anyone in team facilities, and wearing gloves would be strongly encouraged.
NFL owners are expected to have further discussions on reopening procedures during their virtual meetings on May 19.
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