Ohio governor pessimistic about Hall of Fame game between Steelers-Cowboys being played in front of fans. Same goes for enshrinement ceremony involving Troy Polamalu, Bill Cowher.https://t.co/ZtjD7WnBcq
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) June 16, 2020
The annual Pro Football Hall of Fame game is currently scheduled to kick off the 2020 NFL preseason. Unfortunately, and especially because it’s just less than two months away, it appears the game is unlikely to be played.
Per Joe Rutter of Trib Live, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said the Aug. 6 game scheduled between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys should not be played with fans in attendance. DeWine also believes the Aug. 8 Hall of Fame induction ceremony should not be conducted with fans.
Akron’s Tom Benson Stadium holds 23,000 people, and tickets, which went on sale in March, sold out an hour after going on sale. More than 10,000 tickets for the induction ceremony have been sold.
“Having a crowd that size, I think is highly unlikely,” DeWine said. “Certainly, it could not occur today. It would be very dangerous to do it today.”
HOF board of directors will meet Thursday to see if they can come up with a backup plan.
This news certainly doesn’t sound hopeful for Steelers and Cowboys meeting in the preseason. Fans don’t seem to care much for the game, and injuries are always a concern. Still, the opportunity to see former safeties Troy Polamalu and Donnie Shell and former head coach Bill Cowher inducted — live or televised — is special.
We’ll just have to wait and see what the HOF officials come up with.
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