Is it safe to attend a sporting event during COVID pandemic? These NFL teams say yes
Practices are ramping up, fantasy football drafts ongoing and one week from Thursday the Houston Texans will visit the Kansas City Chiefs to kick off the NFL season.
Fans will be in the stands, but in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, they will only fill 22 percent of Arrowhead Stadium.
Welcome to the NFL, coronavirus style, where Kansas City is one of only five — out of 32 — NFL teams with plans to allow fans in early season games.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people try to forgo large crowds or at least practice social distancing, these NFL teams say they are taking measures to keep everyone involved safe.
Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made his fans-in-the-stands sentiments clear after being asked if Texas Gov. Greg Abbott gave him the green light to host fans at AT&T Stadium:
“Absolutely,” Jones said to 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. “We’re excited about it. He’s excited about it.”
Announced plans for limited capacity for all the Cowboys home games have been approved, but guests have to follow a “Safe Stadium Policy” that was announced on Aug. 13.
The policy states that there will be no cash transactions allowed for concessions and requires that fans wear masks. It also includes limited stadium capacity, at least 425 hand sanitizing stations, special seating blocks — called “pods” — and more.
Plans also call for the roof to be open to allow air to flow through.
“We have the ability to lead the way to a more normal type of activity whether it be economic or whether it be social,” Jones said. “This is a great opportunity to do that in a very safe way. We’re very unique in our stadium relative to just space and we’re going to take advantage of it.”
Indianapolis Colts
Colts owner Jim Irsay wrote a letter to fans in July, announcing that fans would be allowed to attend games, but at reduced stadium capacity.
“This is an unprecedented time for our sport,” he said. “As we navigate the twists and turns of the COVID-19 pandemic, I want you to know that our top priority is the safety of our fans, players and staff.”
Which means no more than 25% capacity at games the entire season.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars announced in July that they too will only allow 25% capacity at TIAA Bank Field for the season.
“The health and safety of the entire Jaguars family, including our fans, remains our highest priority,” the team said in a statement. “Alongside our stadium partners and national and local healthcare experts, we have and will continue to work diligently to develop new protocols to ensure our team can return to the field with a clear focus on winning and our fans can return to the stadium with peace of mind.”
Kansas City Chiefs
The Super Bowl champs are allowing only 22% of capacity at all games at Arrowhead, which is approximately 16,000. The Kansas City Star reported that as the season progresses, the team and officials may alter the permitted capacity.
Like other teams, the Chiefs will institute coronavirus protocols, including requiring that fans wear masks at all time “unless they are actively eating or drinking,” the Star reported.
The Chiefs will allow tailgating, with restrictions, and will also go with cashless transactions inside the stadium.
Miami Dolphins
Dolphins announced that a maximum of 13,000 fans will be allowed at the regular-season opener on Sept. 20.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said that the team “would like to get up to 25 percent stadium capacity for games at some point,” the Miami Herald reported.
Gimenez also said that Miami CEO Tom Garfinkel “is very innovative...We need to see the numbers again. I would love to see some fans in the stands as soon as possible. There is some technology being developed, 15-minute tests that may also help in that endeavor.”
Teams that will eventually allow fans
Here are the teams that are looking to start allowing fans by the beginning of October, according to The Associated Press.
Arizona Cardinals: No fans in September.
Atlanta Falcons: No fans in September.
Baltimore Ravens: No fans for the start of the season.
Buffalo Bills: No fans in September.
Carolina Panthers: No fans for season opener on Sept. 13.
Chicago Bears: No fans for start of the season.
Cincinnati Bengals: No fans for home opener on Sept. 13.
Cleveland Browns: No set plan as of now, but “the team continues to work with state task force and hopes to have fans.”
Denver Broncos: No fans for home opener on Sept. 14.
Green Bay Packers: No fans for first two games on Sept. 20 and Oct. 5.
Houston Texans: No fans in September.
Minnesota Vikings: No fans in September.
New England Patriots: No fans in September.
New Orleans: No fans for the first home game on Sept. 13 against Tampa Bay, but no decision has been made for the second home game, on Sept. 27 against Green Bay..
Pittsburgh Steelers: No fans for first two home games on Sept. 20 and 27.
San Francisco 49ers: No fans for Sept. 13 home opener.
Seattle Seahawks: No fans for first three home games on Sept. 20 and 27 and Oct. 11.
Tampa Bay: No fans for first two home games on Sept. 27 and Oct. 11.
Tennessee Titans: No fans in September.
Teams with plans for no fans
These teams plan on having no fans in attendance for the 2020 season, according to AP.
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Rams
New York Giants
New York Jets
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington
This story was originally published September 3, 2020 at 3:58 PM with the headline "Is it safe to attend a sporting event during COVID pandemic? These NFL teams say yes."