Menu
Franchises

Ohio To Allow 12,000 Fans To Attend Next Browns Home Game

Only 6,000 fans could attend Browns' first two home games; all COVID-19 protocols remain intactGetty Images

The Ohio Department of Health "has decided to permit 12,000 fans in FirstEnergy Stadium," beginning with Sunday's game against the Colts, according to Nate Ulrich of the AKRON BEACON JOURNAL. Only 6,000 fans "were allowed to attend the Browns' first two home games." The Browns "will open more seating sections and concourses while all COVID-19 protocols remain intact, including required face coverings and social-distancing procedures" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 10/6). In Cleveland, Laura Hancock writes in addition to the 12,000 spectator limit, the following "will be required:"

  • Additional seating sections and concourse walkways "will be opened to accommodate more spectators while ensuring that six-foot social distancing protocols are maintained."
  • Spectators "will be directed to enter the stadium using the designated entrance that is closest to their assigned seat." 
  • Spectators "will be grouped in 'pods' of predominately 2-4 people with no grouping larger than 6 individuals who are all members of the same party/group."

Browns owners and execs "wanted to increase capacity to 16.8% to 24% of the stadium's capacity beginning Oct. 11," which translates to about 11,406-16,294 fans. Ohio Department of Health interim Dir Lance Himes "didn't provide any explanation in his response about why he decided on 12,000 spectators" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 10/6).

BRONCOS FANS GET GO-AHEAD: In Denver, Ryan O'Halloran reports the Broncos have been "permitted to host at least 5,700 fans for their final six home games this year." Approval came from the state of Colorado and the Department of Public Health & Environment, as an "extension of the guidelines used for the Sept. 27 home game" against the Buccaneers. Beginning with the Oct. 18 game against the Dolphins, "season-ticket members will have the opportunity to purchase a six-game ticket package (decided by priority number)." The team also will "reserve selected single-game tickets for an Oct. 13 presale" (DENVER POST, 10/6).

LAMBEAU WITHOUT THE CHEESE: In N.Y., Joe Drape notes the NFL is a "made-for-television spectacle these days: three hours of packaged razzmatazz broadcast from mostly empty stadiums." Lambeau Field for last night's Falcons-Packers game was a "messy sound stage" in which a "skeleton crew of security personnel directs no one." The Packers are one of many teams not allowing fans into games, so instead of the "piped-in fan noise you hear on your couch that helps with the illusion that the NFL has returned to normal, Tom Petty sounds tinny in the empty stadium and the touchdown fireworks explode violently enough to make you think Lambeau has been wired for demolition." Packers QB Aaron Rodgers said, “You can hear everything on the sidelines. You can hear the conversation of the other team during timeouts. It’s been a big change for all of us” (N.Y. TIMES, 10/6).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2020/10/06/Franchises/Browns.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2020/10/06/Franchises/Browns.aspx

CLOSE