NEWSLETTER
A very important point of clarification/confirmation from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker today as it relates to sports taking place in the state this year.
Although the phased opening of Illinois, like most states, has categories of business that can open (with various restrictions) and sizes of groups that can gather, there wasn’t really a section that fit for something like “playing pro sports at a large stadium with no fans.” Such an endeavor involves groups, in total, larger than 50 at a gym-type place that is also a large sporting venue (which would suggest no opening until Phase 5, which requires a vaccine, widespread treatment, or herd immunity … so, next year). But I think we all kind of knew that you couldn’t quite fit pro sports into the same buckets if there were no fans in attendance.
Thankfully, Pritzker today confirmed that, yes, he can envision sports taking place in the state this year. Here was his response when asked about a summer or fall timeline for sports being played in the state without fans:
Gov. Pritzker says IL ranks 2nd in terms of tests per capita. On poss of sports events: “I want to see sports play, it’s good for everybody. I think they can do it here in Illinois…there’s a high likelihood w/in a timetable that we’re hoping to reopen many businesses.”
— Michele Steele (@ESPNMichele) May 8, 2020
A little more at 670 The Score here.
In other words, sports teams – be it the Cubs or Bulls or Bears – will be treated like other businesses when it comes to having employees together at a facility for work. When businesses of that size are eligible to have employees back at work, then the same will likely be true for sports. Primarily, that would mean being able to have the Cubs work out at Wrigley Field for a Spring Training Part Two (or earlier workouts), or having Bulls players be able to work out at the United Center or the Advocate Center. And when the time comes, it would also mean the Bears could start camp at Halas Hall.
To be very clear, none of this is to say that Illinois has fully opened the doors to sports returning whenever the league(s) say so. Instead, the point is only that, so long as businesses keep opening, sports teams will be able to participate in the same kind of process.
Ultimately, when a plan is proposed by MLB (which is coming soon), the Governor and his medical experts will review and determine the feasibility in his state. Other states will be doing the same.
