The NFL Is Reportedly Working On Several Contingency Plans Including Shortened Season And Playing Games In Empty Stadiums

Getty Image

A few weeks ago the NFL told reporters that they were planning on playing a full season with stadiums filled with people but it seems like reality is starting to set in with league executives.

According to Mark Maske of the Washington Post, the NFL is working on several contingency plans include a shortened schedule and playing games in empty or partially empty stadiums just in case the pandemic is still an issue in the fall.

I don’t know if it’ll be a one-third-filled stadium, a half-filled stadium or whatever,” a person familiar with the league’s plans told the Washington Post Wednesday. “The NFL is planning for everything from playing without fans to playing in full stadiums. We know there will be a push from the [federal] government to open things up.”

“As we have said, we are committed to protecting the health of our fans, players, club and league personnel, and communities,” the NFL said in a statement issued to the Post. “We look forward to the 2020 NFL season, and our guidelines and decisions will be guided by the latest advice from medical and public health officials, as well as current and future government regulations. We will continue to plan for the season and will be prepared to adjust as necessary, just as we have done with free agency, the draft, and now the offseason program.”

Unfortunately for the NFL local governments will likely dictate how their season will go. California Gavin Newsom has already stated that he doesn’t anticipate fans being allowed in stadiums for sporting events for the rest of 2020 or until there’s a vaccine.