Photo: Tampa Bay Lightning
According to NBC Sports, a memo circulated by Jared Moskowitz, state coordinating officer for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, has decreed that sports are to be considered “essential services” for the purpose of the executive order on the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The memo says that people who are allowed to work during the pandemic include “Employees at a professional sports and media production with a national audience — including any athletes, entertainers, production team, executive team, media team and any others necessary to facilitate including services supporting such production — only if the location is closed to the general public.”
In other words, nationally televised pro sports could take place in empty arenas in Florida.
The move by Florida officials essentially places the decision to return to games on the leagues.
For example, the new directive does not mean the Dolphins, Buccaneers and Jaguars can return to work: The NFL has ruled that no team may begin working at its facility until all 32 teams are allowed to return.
