DeSantis had exempted pro sports from any COVID-19-related shut down activityGETTY IMAGES
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis "expressed disappointment" that the Buccaneers are not allowing fans for their first two games at Raymond James Stadium and "suggested that the Bucs decision could negatively affect perceptions about the region’s readiness to welcome fans" for Super Bowl LV in February, according to Steve Contorno of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. DeSantis said, "Showing this community is ready to host a great Super Bowl, having some fans there would've been a good first step. It’s not where we need to be." He also pointed out that he has "always exempted professional sports in any orders to shut down activity in Florida during the coronavirus outbreak." Contorno noted Tampa "currently prohibits gatherings of more than 50 people." However, DeSantis indicated that he "would have made sure local officials didn't stand in the way" if the Bucs wanted to allow fans (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 9/3).
WALKING A FINE LINE: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Andrew Beaton notes five NFL teams "have said so far that they plan to allow fans at a reduced-capacity in their first home game of the season" -- the Dolphins, Chiefs, Jaguars, Cowboys and Colts. Most of the teams that have said no to fans "have left the door open to changing gears as the season moves on and local orders change." The league's two new stadiums, SoFi Stadium in L.A. and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, "will both be empty for their debuts." There are "broad questions about whether it's smart to bring together tens of thousands of beer-swigging die-hards with the coronavirus still raging in parts of the country." For many teams, this decision "was completely out of their hands because local or state orders simply don't allow mass gatherings these days." For owners, it is a "chance to soften the financial blow of the pandemic at a time when internal projections indicate league revenue could fall" by as much as $4B. Team executives "stress their plans are flexible." Teams playing in empty stadiums "could pivot if local laws change." The ones with crowds "could bring in even more fans -- or less -- depending on the state of the pandemic" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/4).
