Tag: Gretchen Whitmer

New Michigan COVID-19 restrictions include attendance ban at MSU sporting events

New restrictions from Governor Whitmer will eliminate the ability for player’s families to attend games at Spartan Stadium.

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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a new set of COVID-19 rules and restrictions on Sunday after cases have been spiking around the country, and at least one of those new rules will directly affect MSU.

Whitmer announced that there will no longer be any attendance allowed at sporting events. Thus far this season, families of players were allowed to come to attend football games at Spartan Stadium, but that will now be put on hold until the coronavirus is back under control in the state.

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Michigan’s stay-at-home order lifted but Lions cannot immediately return to action

Michigan’s stay-at-home order has been lifted but the Detroit Lions cannot immediately return to action just yet

Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer elected to end the state’s stay-at-home lockdown order effective June 8th. Whitmer’s latest executive order will allow outdoor athletic practices, training sessions, or games to re-start with groups of up to 100 people present.

However, the Detroit Lions won’t be able to immediately jump right back into business as usual.

The NFL extended the virtual offseason period through June 12th and that mandate covers all 32 member clubs. Other than injured players receiving treatment, no players are allowed within team facilities. The Lions scheduled mandatory minicamp, from June 9-11, will need to be held virtually despite the latest edict from governor Whitmer.

Beyond the NFL’s own restrictions, the social distancing requirements laid out in Whitmer’s executive order remain firmly in place. While loosening restrictions, it notes that “participants not from the same household (must) maintain 6 feet of distance from one another at all times” during athletic activities.”

This is a necessary step toward the Lions being able to host training camp in late July at the team’s facility in Allen Park. There is still no word on what will happen with training camp, preseason or fans being allowed into Ford Field for scheduled games in the fall.

Gov. Whitmer declares ‘we’re not going to be filling stadiums’ for the Lions

Michigan Gov. Whitmer declares ‘we’re not going to be filling stadiums’ anytime soon, impacting the Detroit Lions and other sports

NFL teams are scrambling to plot a course of action for the 2020 season. For the Detroit Lions, that plan appears to need to account for playing in an empty Ford Field. Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer has made it clear that there won’t be rows filled with fans anytime soon.

In a radio interview with WQKI-FM that did not range into sports beyond the immediate topic of Ford Field, Whitmer delivered a bitter pill of reality. She was asked specifically about the Lions and Ford Field.

“There is reason to feel some confidence here,” Whitmer said. “But we also have to measure (peoples’) expectations and say life’s going to be different. We’re not going to be filling stadiums in the fall.”

In a later follow-up email statement, Michigan deputy press secretary Bobby Leddy shed more light on the issue,

“Medical experts have made it clear that COVID-19 spreads when people are in close contact with one another, and without a vaccine, our best strategy in combating the virus is to practice social distancing. In regards to stadiums, our administration will continue to make informed decisions on re-engagement based upon data and medical expertise.”

The governor’s statement is not yet policy.

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