Coronavirus cancellations has many sports fans at a loss. As if being "safe at home" isn’t a tall order, now diehard fans are being required to forgo the excitement of watching their favorite team compete for first place in their respective category from the stands.
ESPN surveyed fans aged 18 and older to investigate just what they are willing to give up in order to keep the sports season on schedule even if only from the big screen.
The ESPN Coronavirus Lockdown Fan Study found that 65% of the 1,004 fans surveyed confessed that they are in favor of watching televised sports without fans in the stands if that meant that the regularly scheduled sports season would get underway.
Rumors began circulating that sports leagues, such as the NBA, MLB and the NHL have considered the option of starting the season with teams playing in a localized area, meaning there would be little to no travel, however a source close to ESPN’s Reporter Jeremy Fowler revealed that the NFL is not considering that idea as an option.
The new football schedule has hit the airwaves but what does it all really mean for the season?
Sports with no screaming fans seems like it would be a deal breaker for most but the notion of empty stands and having the players kept in hotels with their social contact with others under surveillance, raised the approval rate of the survey up to 76%.
Forbes recently conducted a national panel of over 650 fans to find out if being optimistic or pessimistic about this whole situation could possibly change anything.
The panel reveled that sports fans are at a loss.
One fan pointed out that, “with all the bad news and political bickering, sports was my outlet to focus on other things." Another fan said, “The worst part is the youth sports activities that are being cancelled. This is really hard on teenagers.” In spite of the ill feelings toward the sports delay/cancellations, many said that they are willing to wait until the pandemic clears and they will find a way to support their favorite team from home.
Written by: Malena A. Jackson
Sources: ESPN and Forbes
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