If you plan on going to a Kansas City Chiefs game this season you might be asked to sign a COVID-19 liability waiver. According to a new report from The Athletic’s Daniel Kaplan, the NFL is considering requiring fans who attend games to sign electronic liability waivers to shield teams from potential litigation. These types of waivers will become common practice as event-based businesses look to reopen amidst the pandemic.
The league is still operating under the assumption they’ll be able to start their season on time and play with fans in stadiums. In fact, they’re allowing local authorities to dictate the number of fans allowed in the stadium as opposed to a blanket number for all teams to follow.
The waiver will be just the first of a number of upcoming proposals to make attending NFL games safe for both fans and teams according to Kaplan’s report. One proposal includes a mandate for the fans attending games to wear facemasks. Another would require NFL stadiums to become completely cashless operations. All of these proposals are expected to be in front of NFL decision-makers following the 4th of July holiday.
The NFL already created a buffer zone by tarping off the first 6-8 rows of stadium seating. This puts fans far enough away from NFL sidelines that it protects the fans, players and staff from any potential exposure. They’ll also be using those rows to recoup lost money by selling advertising rights for that area of the stadium.
It’s clear that the NFL is committed to having fans attend during the upcoming season, but the motivation is strictly financial. An entire season without fans would reportedly cost the NFL billions of dollars.
So tell us, Chiefs Kingdom, would you be willing to sign a COVID-19 liability waiver to attend a game this season? Let us know your thoughts on Facebook, Twitter and the Chiefs Wire forums.
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