By Tyler Sonderholzer
Some sports leagues that are allowing a small number of fans to attend games in person may lead the way for what the short-term future will hold.
After a hiatus due to COVID-19, professional sports have resumed but the National Hockey League (NHL), National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Baseball (MLB) stated early on that they will not allow fans to attend games in person.
With three out of four major sports leagues in the United States starting without fans in attendance, people wondered what the National Football League (NFL) would do. On June 25, commissioner Roger Goodell announced the NFL would allow fans at a limited capacity.
While the restart of the NHL and NBA were successful without any issues, playing wasn’t the same without any fans. The MLB restart went mostly without fans but for the National League Championship Series, and the World Series, their versions of semifinals and finals, they allowed fans in attendance at a limited capacity.
Since the NFL season has resumed, some teams, such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys, have had fans in attendance at a limited capacity. This is what the short-term future may hold: a limited capacity until COVID-19 is under control. It may not be ideal or what fans want, but it is necessary to prevent the spread of the virus.
Due to the NFL being the only major sports league currently in season, it gives other leagues time to prepare for what they’ll do. The MLB’s plans could be simple as they’re outdoors and some stadiums have around 40,000 seats, making social distancing easier. However, the NFL and NHL are indoors, have smaller hallways, and have around 18,000 seats, leading to extra precaution to limit interaction.
As for high school sports, while they might not be able to have the precautions like sports leagues have done—everyday testing and a “bubble,” for example—they still take precautions like social distancing and limited interaction between players.
When students, parents and fans can safely return to the stands to watch high school sports, they can follow county and school district COVID-19 regulations such as social distancing and wearing masks.
Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) Athletics Director Roger Holmes suggests students and parents to look at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) website for more information about when fall and spring sports would resume.
For now, Holmes said FVHS “has not been given any guidance yet on spectators at the games.”
