Current guidelines will last beyond Ravens-Browns game at FirstEnergy Stadium on Dec. 14Getty Images
The Browns "can still have 12,000 fans" at FirstEnergy Stadium Sunday for their game against the Eagles on Sunday "despite the stay-at-home advisory issued Wednesday by Cleveland and Cuyahoga County," according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. A Browns spokesperson said that team "will continue to monitor the circumstances and remain flexible, but plan to continue to safely host a limited number of fans by enforcing their gameday protocols on Sunday." The guidelines will last "beyond the Browns’ Monday night game against the Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on Dec. 14." They also coincide with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine "issuing a 21-day curfew" from 10:00pm-5:00am that went into effect on Thursday night (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 11/20). In Akron, Marla Ridenour writes Browns coach Kevin Stefanski "loves the continued support" from the Browns' limited crowds this season. He said, "I am extremely appreciative of our 12,000 strong. It is a different year. I can’t wait to see that stadium filled at some point, but for now, we will just follow the protocols. I really do appreciate how loud they have been" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 11/20).
DIFFERENT STORY FOR CREW: In Columbus, Jacob Meyers notes hours after Crew President & GM Tim Bezbatchenko said that 1,500 fans would be allowed to attend Saturday's match despite a countywide stay-at-home advisory, the Crew "rescinded its decision on Thursday to allow fans at Mapfre Stadium for a first-round MLS Cup playoff game" against the Red Bulls. For the first time since Sept. 6, fans will "not be allowed at Mapfre Stadium, but family and guests of staff, coaches and players will be in attendance." The announcement restricting fan access "came a few hours after Franklin County became the first Ohio county to have a 'purple' rating, the highest such warning issued by the state for severe spread of COVID-19" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 11/20).
