Photo: Bill Alkofer/OCR
California Governor Gavin Newsom indicated on Monday that professional sporting events could return within the state as soon as the first week of June but without fans. The news comes as a surprise as the governor originally said he did not expect sports to return until later in the year.
“Pro sports in that first week or so of June without spectators and modifications and very prescriptive conditions also can begin to move forward…if we hold these trend lines in the next number of weeks,” Newsom said.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the governor has spoken with “league representatives from all the major league sports.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state could see pro sports return by the first week of June without fans. pic.twitter.com/j4PPg56Yn7
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) May 18, 2020
In April, Governor Newsom introduced a four-stage plan for re-opening California from its stay-at-home restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Sports without a live audience was featured in Stage 3, while Stage 4 would allow fans back in stadiums and arenas.
STAGE 4: End of Stay-At-Home Order
Re-opening the highest risk parts of our economy — once therapeutics have been developed.
This will include mass gatherings such as:
– Concerts
– Convention Centers
– Live audience sports— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) April 28, 2020
In California, several professional sports training facilities (NBA’s Lakers, Clippers, and MLS’ Galaxy, LAFC) have opened for the possibility of playing games again, per the Los Angeles Times‘ Arash Markazi. Coaches and players have expressed they need about 3-4 weeks to get ready for a season to start or re-start.
By Della Young
