The NFL announced Wednesday that fans will be required to wear masks to games.
What We Know:
- The NFL has not decided yet whether fans will be allowed into arenas for the 2020-2021 season. Despite this, some teams have announced their own policies for the season. The New York Giants and New York Jets will play in empty stadiums and the Los Angeles Rams will play with no or very few fans. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons plan to allow a reduced capacity of fans, somewhere from 10,000 to 20,000. According to the Falcons, this is in compliance with local authorities, the NFL, and the CDC’s social distancing guidelines.
- Even though some teams have their own plans, the NFL says its mask mandate will be enforced league-wide and will supercede any lack of local mandate. This means everyone who enters an NFL stadium will have to wear a mask, even if the city or state doesn’t have a mandate.
For those wondering, yes, it is league-wide: fans at NFL games this season will be required to wear face coverings pic.twitter.com/D139KGKQ4r
— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) July 22, 2020
- The NFL and Players Association have been working to agree on health and safety protocols for the season. Players are vocal on social media about the risk that they’re taking to play football during a pandemic and have urged the NFL to take every precaution necessary and put the players’ health and safety first. Recently, the league announced daily coronavirus testing for players during training camp and the cancellation of preseason games.
American professional sports are returning sooner than people think. The MLS kicked off on July 8, the NBA returned to action with televised scrimmages on Wednesday, and the WNBA will tip off on July 25. NFL players are already reporting to training camp and the season will start September 10.
