FC Dallas wants to allow up to 5,110 spectators at 20,000-capacity Toyota StadiumGETTY IMAGES
MLS "will consider allowing spectators at some matches" as part of its plans to resume the regular season in home markets after the MLS is Back Tournament, according to Steven Goff of the WASHINGTON POST. In an effort to complete the regular season by Nov. 8, followed by playoffs and the MLS Cup on Dec. 12, "each team will play 18 additional regular season matches: six in each of three phases." MLS Commissioner Don Garber: "We understand it's not going to be easy. We know we might have some issues that are going to disrupt us, might even force us to postpone games. We are aware of the need to be flexible." The first phase "will begin in earnest" Aug. 20-23. FC Dallas said that it "would allow up to 5,110 spectators at 20,000-capacity Toyota Stadium, pending league approval." But in most cities, matches in the first phase "will take place without spectators." Garber: "Playing matches with fans in local markets is a step toward some sense of what the new normal in sports is going to be. We have to start; we have got to give it a try" (WASHINGTON POST, 8/9). In Chicago, Jeremy Mikula noted MLS protocols call for "players, coaches and other staff to be tested every other day." Another aspect will be "same-day travel." Teams "will train and play in their home markets," and travel for road games "will be on chartered flights" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/9).
PLANS SO FAR: In K.C., Shaun Goodwin noted Sporting KC's next three home games "will be watched in front of crowds limited to 14 percent of normal capacity" (K.C. STAR, 8/9). In Salt Lake City, Alex Vejar noted Real Salt Lake's Rio Tinto Stadium is "expected to allow roughly 5,000 fans to attend games" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 8/9). Fire matches at Soldier Field during phase one "will be played without fans" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/9). Spokespeople for the Galaxy and LAFC said that there are "no plans to allow fans to attend any of their teams' home games during phase one." In L.A., Kevin Baxter noted with travel restricted between the U.S. and Canada, there "have been no games scheduled for Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver." Those teams "probably will play among themselves in phase one and then could be forced to temporarily relocate to the U.S. to continue the season" (L.A. TIMES, 8/9). In Seattle, Jayda Evans noted as of now, games in Washington state "will still be without fans." Sounders GM & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey: "There's some hope we can (play) with some fans this year, but that's not up to us. ... We go from having the second-largest crowd in the league to not having any crowd at all" (SEATTLE TIMES, 8/9).
STRATEGIC OR IRRESPONSIBLE? YAHOO SPORTS' Doug McIntyre wrote while MLS allowing fans in the stands where allowed by local authorities was "expected," that "doesn't make it seem any less irresponsible." Now is "not the time to abandon what helped them get there for something we've already seen doesn't offer nearly as much certainty." This time, MLS "ought to resist the urge to trend-set if the safety of its employees and the general public remains the top priority" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/7). ESPN.com's Jeff Carlisle wrote unfortunately for MLS in the regular season, they "can't take the bubble with them." The league is "determined to forge ahead with plans" in a decision that "threatens to undermine the good work it has done in the past several weeks." MLS' stance is that it "has learned plenty from being in the bubble, and feels capable of creating a safe enough environment for players that the league should move forward" (ESPN.com, 8/9).
