The NHL will have a "five-second delay on broadcasts and artificial crowd noise," among other changes, when it restarts its season in Toronto and Edmonton beginning Aug. 1, according to Greg Wyshynski of ESPN.com. Each arena "will have 32 cameras, 12 more than usual." Cameras "will be repositioned to capture more of the ice and show new angles." Rather than empty seats behind the benches, the NHL has "constructed a rinkwide stage featuring LED screens and banners." Empty seats on the lower bowl of each arena "will be covered by a tarp." Since acoustics "will be different without fans, there will be a five-second delay on broadcasts in an effort to prevent audible unsavory language -- an NHL initiative agreed to by the NHLPA." Other sound "will be provided by 'EA Sports supplemental crowd noise,'" following the lead of MLB and the EPL, both of which "use video game sounds to fill the audio void." Meanwhile, the NHL is allowing players to "create customized helmet and uniform decals that celebrate 'community, charities, businesses, fans, front-line heroes, youth programs and social justice advocates.'" The decals "will have the hashtags '#ISkateFor' and '#WeSkateFor'" (ESPN.com, 7/23).
