Tag: Social distancing

Ravens announce attendance cap for 2020; what about Cowboys?

Fewer than 14,000 will attend Ravens games this fall; what would a similar attendance percentage look like in Dallas?

As the NFL plods forward with their plans to hold a 2020 regular season in the middle of a global pandemic, the focus- rightfully so- has been on keeping players and team personnel safe. But for the most popular sport in the country, uncertainty about fans’ participation has been lurking in the background ever since the phrase “social distancing” entered the national lexicon.

As football fans wonder how forty thousand to ninety thousand bodies will safely occupy the league’s 30 stadiums on any given Sunday this fall, the Baltimore Ravens have an answer no one wanted to hear: they won’t.

The team has announced that fewer than 14,000 fans will be allowed into Ravens home games under Maryland state and local laws. M & T Bank Stadium seats over 71,000.

That’s approximately 19% capacity.

No other teams have released expected figures or attendance plans for their stadiums, though the Packers and Chiefs have confirmed that they will seat just a fraction of fans for 2020 home games. The Packers have also announced that face coverings will be mandatory for all fans in attendance at Lambeau Field. The league has already declared that the lowermost rows of seats at every stadium would be tarped off to keep fans and players adequately separated.

At AT&T Stadium in Arlington, 80,000 fans can be seated for Cowboys home games. Attendance figures for games often surpass that number, though, thanks to multiple standing areas located inside the gates.

The league is allowing each team to set its own attendance policy, theoretically following appropriate state, county, and city guidelines. Last month, Texas governor Greg Abbott allowed his state’s sports venues to operate at 50% capacity, up from 25% previously.

But using Baltimore’s 19% as a purely hypothetical guide, it would make any Cowboys home games played in 2020 some highly-sought-after tickets.

According to ESPN figures, the Cowboys averaged 90,929 fans per game in 2019. Nineteen percent of that equates to just 17,276 fans. If all of AT&T Stadium’s standing areas are closed off entirely, a “full-capacity” crowd is just 15,200, a downright intimate gathering for a Cowboys game at JerryWorld.

The Ravens’ decision will kickstart a lengthy and possibly complicated refund process for current ticketholders. PSL owners will have first priority at securing 2020 home seats. Fans who already own season tickets will see their seats saved and rolled over to 2021. Single-game ticket sales have been put on hold; those who already have single-game tickets will be refunded.

Of course, if there’s another round of widespread pandemic shutdowns, it’s not even guaranteed that any fans at all will be allowed in any stadiums by the time Week 1 arrives. But then again, it’s not a lock that there will be a 2020 NFL season, so the news out of Baltimore could well become a moot point.

But it is a disheartening announcement for fans clinging to the hope that football will look anything like it’s supposed to at any point in the near future.

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The University of Texas reveals return to campus plans

The interim Univeristy of Texas President Jay Hartzell released the plans for a return to campus for the fall of 2020.

The return of sports at the collegiate level has been ever-changing conversation. The situation surround the pandemic or COVID-19 outbreak has been a fluid one. For the University of Texas it has been no different than anyone else.

Related: Positive cases among the football team

On Monday, the office of the University’s Presidents office release plans for the return to campus for athletes and students.

Every person in our community has unique circumstances and concerns to contend with during this difficult time. Our faculty and staff members have stepped up to adapt courses and develop an innovative range of formats for teaching and learning, including adding additional online courses in recent weeks, and their efforts will continue throughout the summer. For students and families, we want you to have the ability to make informed choices about how you experience the fall semester, while keeping in mind that COVID-19 and its spread in Texas will continue to shape the exact ways we teach, learn, work and conduct research on and off campus. We are also reimagining student life activities, to hold them either fully or partially online or in outdoor spaces.

  • The dates for the semester outlined in the release show that the fall semester will begin on August 26, 2020 and run through November 25th. Final exams will take place online from December 7-10th.
  • Students may choose whether to attend classes in person or online.
  • Classes will take place between 8 am and 8 pm with no classrooms to reach more than 40% capacity
  • Online, in-person and hybrid classes will be the three options available. Hybrid will have a mix of online and in person classes.

The release goes on to detail how cloth masks are mandatory on campus for in person classes or when out on the campus grounds. They are not mandatory when in the dorm. The school and Big 12 Conference are still putting together a plan for the athletic departments.

  • The university is developing policies and procedures for hosting football games and other athletics events this fall pursuant to state, local and Big 12 Conference health and safety guidelines. UT expects to narrow the scenarios under consideration by the first week of August.
  • We are also implementing policies and procedures to return essential coaches, athletics staff and all student-athletes to campus in the fall for practice/competition pursuant to guidance by the CDC, state and local officials and athletics and campus medical staff.
  • For more information, please read the Athletics COVID-19 Policies and Procedures Manuals. – per the release

You can read the full release from the University using the following link;

Reopening plans

 

PGA proves that a return to action is more than doable

What I’m Hearing: Golfweek’s Steve DiMeglio spoke with a number of golfers and event coordinators following the Charles Scwab Challenge and the shared feeling is that the PGA’s plan to return is being well executed, despite the awkwardness of no fans.

What I’m Hearing: Golfweek’s Steve DiMeglio spoke with a number of golfers and event coordinators following the Charles Scwab Challenge and the shared feeling is that the PGA’s plan to return is being well executed, despite the awkwardness of no fans.

Cowboys News: No-fan games could cripple Dallas’ financials, Hill’s second act

Trysten Hill struggled to crack the rotation consistently as a rookie, but has a chance to shine in year two. Cap space not Dak related

Trysten Hill had a hard time cracking the rotation last season as a rookie, but with Jim Tomsula on the staff and a year of experience under his belt, it might be unwise to seal his fate just yet. New Cowboys defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said Carson Wentz was better than Dak Prescott last July, now he shares the same uniform as the latter to face the former twice a year as division rivals.

Everson Grifffen had been one of the biggest names on the free-agent market since voiding the last three years of his deal with the Minnesota Vikings. The most had interest before the draft, but his price tag would have to reasonable to book his ticket to Dallas.

How the Cowboys will take a huge financial loss without fans attending games, whether or not it’s playoffs or bust in 2020, and how the Dallas defense still runs through DeMarcus Lawrence and more are covered in the news and notes.

DE Everson Griffen is Still Available, Cowboys Should Make the Call :: Inside The Star

The Cowboys have added Bradlee Anae, Aldon Smith, and in the near future Randy Gregory. But acquiring veteran Everson Griffen would be the icing on the cake for a revamped Cowboys defense.

Trysten Hill’s bad rap may be a bit premature, shouldn’t be written off yet :: Cowboys Wire

K.D. Drummond breaks down how working with new defensive line coach Jim Tomsula and a year of NFL experience give Trysten Hill a chance to contribute in 2020.

Gerald McCoy said Carson Wentz is better than Dak Prescott, but that’s water under the bridge :: Blogging The Boys

About a year ago on FS1’s Undisputed, Gerald McCoy said he thought Carson Wentz was better than Dak Prescott. Who would’ve thought he’d now be wearing the same uniform as the latter.

A big Cowboys “what if” that would have changed everything going on now at quarterback :: Blogging The Boys

The Cowboys had an interest in Nick Foles back in 2016 to backup Tony Romo. If that particular scenario would have played out, would we have ever seen Dak Prescott in Dallas?

How do the Cowboys do when creating all-star teams based on college school or conference? :: Blogging The Boys

If there’s one thing the Cowboys have done well in recent history it’s acquiring talent from some of the top programs in college football.

Games without fans could have crippling financial effect for the NFL – and the Cowboys would be the biggest losers :: Dallas Morning News

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could see the NFL play in empty stadiums. The league would take a huge financial loss, and the biggest moneymaker, the Dallas Cowboys, would suffer the most.

DeMarcus Lawrence Still the Key for New Look Cowboys Defense :: Inside The Star

Even with new additions and a different approach under Mike Nolan, the Cowboys defense still goes through DeMarcus Lawrence.

Training at The Star will be 4th time Cowboys have held camp in Texas :: WFAA

For the first time since 2011, the Cowboys will hold training camp exclusively from Texas due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

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Texans DE J.J. Watt getting ready for 2020 with or without fans in the stands

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt says he is preparing for the 2020 NFL season, with or without fans in attendance.

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There is no time in the world except the present; future plans are as a tangible as alternate realities thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unlike a majority of the other sports league, the pandemic occurred in early parts of the NFL’s offseason, which gives pro football a chance to adapt its regular season to the “new normal.”

Though there is a strong belief the 101st NFL season will happen, it is still possible it may not due to a dreaded second wave on infections.

For Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, he prepares for the 2020 season one day at a time, regardless of what the future may allow or postpone.

“All I know is I’m preparing like it’s going to happen on time like normal, and I’m getting ready for training camp just like it’s going to happen at a normal time,” Watt told Houston media on a video conference Wednesday.

One of the plans the NFL has, as do all of the sports leagues, is to play games without fans in the stadium.

“As far as fans or no fans, obviously we always prefer to play in front of fans,” said Watt. “We love our fans and it makes the game — the energy, the excitement, the adrenaline — it makes it what it is. But at the same time, as an athlete and as a competitor, you can play in front of no fans.

“We want to go out there and compete. It doesn’t matter if it’s a practice against another team, it doesn’t matter if it’s a practice against your own team, it doesn’t matter if it’s in the weight room against yourself. You’re always looking to compete.”

There is some optimism on the horizon as a recent report indicates NFL teams could have minicamps as soon as June.

How is Texans DE J.J. Watt handling the COVID-19 pandemic?

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt says he is like everybody else in the way that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected his daily routine.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of almost everyone on the planet, and NFL superstars such as the Houston Texans’ J.J. Watt is no exception.

The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year met with Houston reporters via video conferencing on Wednesday, and Watt said he is trying to “wade through” the information like everyone else.

However, the defensive end does need to get ready for his 10th season in the league, so certain aspects of his routine have continued.

“For me personally, I go to the gym, and the gym is obviously fully wiped down and there’s protocols in place and you’re not close to anybody, things like that,” Watt said. “But other than that, I don’t really leave my house a whole lot.”

Occasionally, Watt will leave his home to pick up food, but with his wife, Kealia Ohai, preparing for a possible tournament style season with the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League, the 31-year-old is home alone with the dogs.

“It’s just me and the dogs down here in Houston,” Watt said. “They love that because I throw the tennis ball 650 times an hour and when I’m not training that’s literally all I do.”

The pandemic has disrupted appointments, routines, and other staples that make time pass on a daily and weekly basis. A new part of Watt’s schedule has been his “Ultimate Tag” show, which he shot over the 2019 summer and co-hosted with his brothers, Derek Watt and T.J. Watt, both of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I think the best part about it is I get to share it with my brothers, and parents got to be out there for filming last year,” Watt said. “We had a lot of fun with it and it’s a foray into a foreign situation for us, and for it to have success in its premier [May 20], we were just very thankful to all the fans and we’re glad they like it.”

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NFL planning on full stadiums until medical community says otherwise

NFL EVP of Football Operations, Troy Vincent, said the NFL is still planning on full stadiums this fall despite the coronavirus pandemic.

The National Football League is still gearing up for the start of the scheduled 2020 regular season despite the coronavirus pandemic that is keeping most sports teams off fields around the country.

The NFL, for now, is planning on stadiums full of fans this fall.

NFL EVP of Football Operations, Troy Vincent, explained the game plan during an interview Friday with Brian Mitchell of The Team 980.

“We are planning to have full stadiums until the medical community tells us otherwise,” Vincent said. “Now remember when we’re talking – we’re talking about September, August, September. So there’s a lot that can happen here. So we’re planning for full stadiums.”

A number of teams around the league have slowly begun to reopen their facilities, although under strict guidelines from the NFL and local officials.

Vincent does acknowledge, however, that things could likely look different in stadiums this season if social distancing and other safety measures don’t allow for full capacity.

“We also know that we have to plan for half stadiums,” Vincent said. “Three-quarters. So we’re planning for all of these different scenarios. But first and foremost, we’re making every effort, working with the medical community, if we can have those stadiums with all people until they tell us otherwise when that time comes, that’s our plan.

“That’s our plan of action.”

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Big 12 commissioner believes fans will be able to attend games

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby recently joined Big 12 Radio on SiriusXM to discuss the chances of fans attending college sporting events.

If you’re hoping to attend a college football game this season, you may be in luck. Continue reading “Big 12 commissioner believes fans will be able to attend games”

PGA Tour restart plan will require patience, time management from players

Players will be greeted with a new normal when the PGA Tour resumes play next month at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Forth Worth, Texas.

Players will be greeted with a new normal when the PGA Tour resumes play next month at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Forth Worth, Texas.

It’s going to take some getting used to.

“What we used to do and how easy it used to be and how fluid it was, that’s not going to be that way anymore,” four-time PGA Tour winner Charley Hoffman said Wednesday during a conference call.

Hoffman is the Player Advisory Council chairman. Since the PGA Tour shut down March 12 after the first round of the Players Championship due to the COVID-19 pandemic – Hoffman shot 70 that day – he has spent hours on end working with Tour officials, other players, tournament directors and health experts developing a plan for the resumption of play June 11 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.

The 37-page plan details safety and health rules and guidelines for the return, including layered testing protocols and social distancing standards. Its objective is to create a safety bubble to limit as much risk as possible.

“They are plans. They are not set in stone. We’re not acting like we know all the answers to this pandemic,” Hoffman said. “It’s very comprehensive, it’s very detailed, but I wouldn’t say it’s the here all end all, by any means.

“But it’s a plan for us to be safe. For this plan to work, we’re all going to have to abide by the regulations of the CDC and social distancing regulations and we’re looking forward to competing and putting the sport back on TV.”

Hoffman is “100 percent” comfortable with the testing protocols and the plan.

“We wouldn’t have gone through with this if we hadn’t had the consent from the players,” he said “I can say that every single player we have talked to is comfortable how (the plan) was laid out. I’m not saying we’re bullet-proof, by any means. This is serious and this is real. But we’re lucky to be in a sport where we don’t have to be in close contact with your competitors.”

But the days of jumping into the courtesy vehicle and getting to the course in eight minutes and then start working out 12 minutes later are gone, Hoffman said. Players will have to develop new routines to deal with the new safety measures.

For instance, upon arrival to the course, players will undergo a thermal test and take part in a questionnaire. A hot breakfast won’t be at the ready as soon as players walk into player dining. The range and practice putting green will have social distancing rules that could lead to a waiting game.

“We’re going to have to figure it out,” Hoffman said. “Time management is going to be important. The first few weeks I’m sure there will be a lot of waiting around. It’s going to be new for everybody.

“We have to be patient. But once the gun goes off, once we get inside the ropes, our instincts will come back and the competition will be amazing.”

Hoffman’s biggest reservations as the restart nears are in travel, living arrangements and eating. The plan includes a charter plane to take players and caddies to the next tournament on the schedule and a designated hotel for all at each site. Room service is highly recommended. The plan is basically a beefed up version of shelter at home guidelines.

Still, there will be increased contact with people in airplanes, hotels and the quest for food.

“I’ve gotten a ton of homecooked meals the last eight weeks or so and it’s been very nice going to the grocery store once every two weeks and staying at home and eating. That’s not the case on the road,” Hoffman said. “So you’ll be doing a lot of takeout, probably with your caddie because that’s the person you’re in closest contact with. That’s the variable where there’s a little uncertainty we’re all going to have. But I think it will be safe.”

 

Report: 2020 schedule to includes 17 weeks; no international games

The NFL is set to release a full schedule for 2020, but will move four international games stateside as stadiums consider social distancing.

The 2020 NFL schedule is coming. It will look different than originally anticipated. It may not look as different as fans had feared. But there will be changes, and one team has already offered a virtual glimpse.

Although the NBA, NHL, NASCAR, the PGA, and Major League Baseball have all been forced to dramatically alter their seasons due to the coronavirus pandemic, the National Football League was granted the luxury of waiting the longest to make any sort of decision that would require asterisks in the record books of the future. Reports now indicate that the league will release its 2020 regular season slate of games by May 9. The schedule will be for a full 17-week campaign that starts on time on September 10.

But that doesn’t mean there won’t be some tweaks to the initial plan.

ESPN is reporting that the league will scrap its International Series games for 2020, relocating the four planned contests to their home teams’ stateside stadiums.

As for the stadiums themselves, at least one is already thinking ahead to the logistics of hosting NFL games under current social distancing guidelines. The Miami Dolphins have released a mocked-up look at how the Plexiglas barriers, floor dots, and altered foot-traffic patterns that have suddenly become commonplace at the local grocery store might work on a much larger scale at Hard Rock Stadium on Sundays this fall.

As per ESPN:

“Hard Rock Stadium became the first public facility to earn the Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s STAR accreditation, the standard used for facilities to implement cleaning, disinfecting and infectious disease prevention work practices to control risks involved with infectious agents like the coronavirus. (The GBAC is a division of the ISSA, a worldwide trade association for the cleaning industry.)”

No official plans or standards from the league have been announced; the Dolphins sought help in crafting their plan early.

“When our fans, players and staff are able to return to Hard Rock Stadium, we want them to have peace of mind that we’re doing everything we can to create the safest and healthiest environment possible,” Dolphins president/CEO Tom Garfinkel said. “We didn’t want to create our own standard, we wanted to be accountable to the most credible third-party standard that exists. Working with the GBAC ensures compliances with critical guidelines for the highest standard of cleanliness and it is our hope that other venues will follow suit as we navigate through these unprecedented times.”

Such a strategy would also necessitate a reduced capacity for fans in attendance. Hard Rock Stadium seats approximately 65,000 fans for a Dolphins game, but may be able to hold just 15,000 or so under these guidelines.

AT&T Stadium’s normal setup for a Cowboys game accommodates 80,000. The same math used in the Miami scenario would equate to a home capacity of under 19,000.

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