The NBA and NHL probably can finish their season. They, like the MLS and women soccer, have the players living in a bubble. But baseball and football have players going home after games and travel from city to city, So the chances of getting infected, even if the players are careful, are still greater than the general population. They get tested frequently so maybe able to control an outbreak better. But as you can see with the Marlins, things still can get out of hand. I thought originally, MLB was going to go into bubbles in Florida and Arizona, but that did not happen.
Major sports leagues such as the English Premier League have been able to finish or almost finish their restarted seasons without significant problems from the virus. This is because these countries waited until the curves had not only been flattened but had turn downward significantly before starting their sports leagues. We are starting leagues in the middle of a surge, so our chances of success are diminished greatly. This is a lesson for the economy as well. If you start too early, things will go south and the second shut down will be more painful than before.
I actually think that MLB can get through the season if they change the way things are done since it's a longer season. If they only had a few weeks it would be impossible. But they can learn from their mistakes. The players shouldn't be allowed to frequent public places and should live a more bubble-like lifestyle. This includes staying at a team hotel and not going home to be with their wives. If this works, then travelling should work as well. If this doesn't work, then they should all move to the bubble camps like they originally said they would. This would restrict the travelling at least and keep them away from the public.
ReplyDeleteYou are probably correct on football since it would be very hard to keep the players away from the public and due to scheduling, it would be hard to make in-season changes. Is there a place that all teams can be in a bubble? I doubt there are.
I also agree that it would be very difficult to have a college football season with the way things are going. The only way I can see this working is if the students don't come back to campus and only athletes are allowed on campus. But how is that fair to the general population of students? At this point, I am concerned that the winter sports, basketball in particular, might be cancelled as well, unless there's a vaccine. If they play, there might not be fans in the stands too since it's in an enclosed place.
Who knows, maybe the numbers will go down by then but aren't we expecting another wave in the fall?
-LBOAYM