Players will only be eligible for competition if they test negative for COVID-19GETTY IMAGES
The Big3 "plans to open its fourth season of its 12-team league on June 20 in Memphis," as well as go through with its reality show, "Big Brother," according to Mark Medina of USA TODAY. Big3 co-Founder Jeff Kwatinetz said, "If [the season] has to be pushed back a week or two, that's possible." The Big3 and media production company Endemal "have outlined strict parameters to ensure this event happens without exposing anyone to COVID-19." They first will "test the participating 16 players and officials, and will only clear them to participate should they test negative." Then they will "stay at a designated house" in L.A. that Kwatinetz said is currently being constructed. The tournament "will take place at an undetermined venue behind closed doors." Kwatinetz said, "No one is allowed to leave the quarantine area. That's part of what keeps the safety and health of the players. ... It also dovetails with what makes 'Big Brother' so great. You have a group of 16 people locked in a house together and the social dynamics that come out of that." Meanwhile, Kwatinetz said that he and Big3 co-Founder Ice Cube are "probably just a few days away" from finalizing various logistics to ensure the tournament is broadcast globally. That includes "resuming talks with potential broadcast partners, calculating the show's budget and the tournament's rules and schedule" (USA TODAY, 3/28).
