Athletics

When the pandemic first hit, it seemed like everyday a new celebrity would contact the virus causing more and more panic to arise amongst social media users. Who could forget when Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were diagnosed with Covid-19 during March of 2020? Social media outlets such as CNN and TMZ went insane as articles were being published left and right on their well-being. Then Utah Jazz center, Rudy Gobert, contracted the deadly virus raising red flags for sports fans across the world. This was a major turning point for all sports as many future games were getting cancelled. Everyone was desperate to find a solution as NBA all star, LeBron James, was on the path to winning his 4th championship. He states, “I don't think I would be able to have any closure if we did not have an opportunity to finish the season” (LeBron James, Apr 8th, 2020). That’s when the NBA announced the NBA bubble, also referred to as the Orlando bubble. It is here where the 2019-2020 regular season would continue in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, thus ensuring the safety of the NBA teams and staff. No fans would be allowed to participate in these games and other sports leagues followed in their footsteps.

With the pandemic starting to die down and vaccinations starting to be sent out throughout the United States, what are the next steps for the NBA? Going into the 2020-2021 season for the NBA made many players highly anxious for what is to come. The NBA planned to have their regular season games in arenas like they did before the pandemic, but there would be no fans attending these games. This means that the players would have to travel to the arenas they are scheduled to play in. As a result, the NBA adopted their new health and safety protocols which consists of but are not limited to: daily testing, unannounced inspections, and traveling parties of no more than 30 people. These regulations put many players on edge for their safety but with the increase in production for the Covid-19 vaccines, this has started to slightly change. However, not all NBA players were on board with the vaccines at first. Commissioner Adam Silver comments, “...there's been enormous resistance [to vaccinations] in the African American community for understandable historical reasons” (Adam Silver, Feb 17, 2021). Even though many of these players are being educated to fully understand the vaccine, they are more concerned with the long term effects that may come with them. Nevertheless, most of the NBA’s players and staff have received the vaccine, ensuring the safety of the league and it’s future.

The NBA isn’t the only sports league developing improvements for fans who have been dying for things to go back to normal. On April 4th, the MLB made a bold move in starting their season by reopening the Globe Life Field stadium at full capacity. With roughly 40,000 seats, the Texas Rangers faced off the Kansas City Royals and raised some concern from President Joe Biden himself. He adds, “They should listen to Dr. [Anthony] Fauci, the scientists and the experts. But I think it's not responsible” (Joe Biden, Apr 4th, 2021). Every person in attendance was required to wear a mask unless eating. While the Texas seven-day average of new daily cases in Texas has decreased from 7,693 to 3,667 between March 1 and April 1, President Biden wants to ensure the safety of those who have not been vaccinated already. Regardless, the risk of contracting Covid-19 has slowly decreased with more and more restaurants starting to open at full capacity.

It’s only a matter of time before the next sports league opens their stadiums for fans with some new changes in safety regulations. Until then, die hard fans continue to root from their own couches- a comfortable alternative with cheaper refreshments. Colleges are already taking the next steps necessary to open their stadiums, raising questions for whether Pac-12 stadiums could be opening as well. However, not many are looking forward to large stadiums opening back up in fear of positive cases spiking for a next wave. Only time can tell whether sports will lead into positive or negative beginnings for the next couple of years.