MLS Commissioner Don Garber is "confident players and staff will be safe" during the league's tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, according to Iliana Limon Romero of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. However, as coronavirus numbers have "climbed in Florida," fans have "questioned whether it really was a good idea to host the tournament on Disney World property." Garber yesterday said, "We are confident that we'll be able to manage our tournament, which is isolated from the public." Romero notes during an individual's first two weeks in Orlando, that person "will be tested every other day." After those first 14 days, players, coaches and officiating staff "will be tested regularly, including the day before each match." A positive response to a daily health questionnaire or a temperature check above 100.3 degrees "must be reported and the individual in question will be isolated immediately and PCR testing will be performed." Anyone in the MLS group "will be asked to wear face coverings or masks, social distance and observe best hygiene practices" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/11). THE ATHLETIC's Sam Stejskal reports members of the league delegation "will not be able to leave the hotel or the Wide World of Sports complex under their own volition." The league "will provide some off-site activities for players to participate in to help pass the time, but it will maintain tight control over where they're going and who they interact with" (THEATHLETIC.com, 6/10).
HOME COOKING: Orlando City CEO Alex Leitao said that ever since MLS shut down play on March 11, the club was "eager to figure out ways to help bring back soccer safely." Leitao said he initially thought "maybe we didn't need hubs." Leitao: "We have a place that can accommodate all teams. ... We have hotels that could host all the teams and a facility like ESPN Wide World of Sports with the fields to not only accommodate the games, but ... give opportunities to the teams to train." He said that his "first call was to a club partner at Disney World and his second was to Orlando Health." He then "introduced Disney and Orlando Health leaders to MLS staff." League officials "confirmed Leitao played an instrumental role" in bringing the event to Disney (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/11).
JUST THE BEGINNING? MLS said that it "plans to continue the regular season with a revised slate in its home markets." But in Chicago, Brian Sandalow notes a schedule, dates, and "even how many games will be played were not announced." Garber said he is "very optimistic," adding that he "expects that teams will be back in their stadiums this season." Sandalow writes beyond that, Garber "didn't have too many details" on the league's post-Orlando plans (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/11).
CAPTIVE AUDIENCE: In Seattle, Matt Calkins writes MLS has an "unprecedented opportunity to capture and sustain an audience that might not have paid it mind before the sports world was shut down." It is "likely going to be the first of the five most-watched U.S. sports leagues to return." MLS "could have much of the audience to itself for three weeks, and you have to think TV ratings would skyrocket." Calkins: "Americans have been starving for sports for the past three months and will devour anything they can get their hands on" (SEATTLE TIMES, 6/11).
