Football without fans

I think at least part and maybe all of the season will be in empty stadiums. Don't know how I feel about that - it won't feel like the NFL to me. The Pats are doing a 1 year reset so now is a good time as any I guess.

Also wonder how they would shorten a season. 9 game schedule with conference opponents only, leaving Pats with 6 vs AFC East + KC (and maybe no fans in Arrowhead) + Bal + Hou?

The Patriot haters will squeal about that lol.

sb1 said:

Also wonder how they would shorten a season. 9 game schedule with conference opponents only, leaving Pats with 6 vs AFC East + KC (and maybe no fans in Arrowhead) + Bal + Hou?

The Patriot haters will squeal about that lol.

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Wouldn't be surprised if they extend the playoff field to 16 teams for this year only if we are getting a severely shortened season. It adds one more week of playoff football they can market to maybe minimize some of the lost revenue.

I feel great about it. I watch for the competition. From my couch, on TV.

If there is competition on TV and a week’s worth of talking about said sport - I’m happy. The number of fans in the seats is irrelevant to me. Maybe I’m in the minority.

Football is a spectator sport, but really the $ comes from TV. And that $ is what matters to the 32.

luuked said:

Wouldn't be surprised if they extend the playoff field to 16 teams for this year only if we are getting a severely shortened season. It adds one more week of playoff football they can market to maybe minimize some of the lost revenue.

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I expect there to be a full season, with perhaps one or two fewer pre-season games. I think the issue will be that a couple of governors might decide not to allow games in their state; for example, MI.

luuked said:

Wouldn't be surprised if they extend the playoff field to 16 teams for this year only if we are getting a severely shortened season. It adds one more week of playoff football they can market to maybe minimize some of the lost revenue.

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Maybe in this scenario there could be a trial balloon to cut the preseason in half too.

They will need to modify the schedule to minimize travel. Look for that next.

what's going to happen is this virus will appear to have run it's course once the weather gets warm......and then come back worse when the weather gets cold......my most likely scenario is the season starting on time, but not completing.

denverpatsfan said:

They will need to modify the schedule to minimize travel. Look for that next.

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Agreed. That is helpful for us since we're playing West teams in both conferences and some of them are tough opponents this year.

sb1 said:

Maybe in this scenario there could be a trial balloon to cut the preseason in half too.

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I don't think there will be any preseason apart from camp. The travel involved is just too much of a risk vector in terms of COVID infections that could effectively suspend the operations of both involved teams for about 2-3 weeks.

Having training camp where the staff and players are essentially in isolation for 2-3 weeks carries much less risk. Of course this still leaves open the question of family contact and whatnot in that time. I just can't see a scenario where they let personnel and players out of the isolated "safe zone" and have tests every day.

My 2 cents....

As each day passes and new statistics pour in regarding infection rate vs death rate, it is becoming increasing clear covid stats are in line with typical flu stats.
The unknown is becoming known and policy makers will adjust precautionary actions.

I foresee stadiums opening up but with mask requirements
I would like to see daytime outdoor events that take place during extreme heat....ie....Sunday 1pm football in Aug - October.... to be shifted to evenings simply because breathing in masks is hot/difficult enough without incorporating 90+ degree temperatures as well.

luuked said:

.I just can't see a scenario where they let personnel and players out of the isolated "safe zone" and have tests every day.

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I'm fine with daily testing. In fact, I think that daily testing is a good idea. I don't think that testing will be difficult in 3-4 months.

I have not missed a regular season or playoff game at Gillette they better let me in.

mgteich said:

I'm fine with daily testing. In fact, I think that daily testing is a good idea. I don't think that testing will be difficult in 3-4 months.

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You are more optimistic about that than I am. I don't think it will be feasible to continuously test everyone every day. For camp it would be much more efficient to just isolate them during the week and let them out on weekends and then just test upon return.

RCA Dome will be the same volume with or without fans.

I see two positives to no fans.

Road games with young QB.

Chiefs opening night "celebration" should be worth watching!

borg said:

My 2 cents....

As each day passes and new statistics pour in regarding infection rate vs death rate, it is becoming increasing clear covid stats are in line with typical flu stats.

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It is nowhere near typical flu stats

borg said:

My 2 cents....

As each day passes and new statistics pour in regarding infection rate vs death rate, it is becoming increasing clear covid stats are in line with typical flu stats.
The unknown is becoming known and policy makers will adjust precautionary actions.

I foresee stadiums opening up but with mask requirements
I would like to see daytime outdoor events that take place during extreme heat....ie....Sunday 1pm football in Aug - October.... to be shifted to evenings simply because breathing in masks is hot/difficult enough without incorporating 90+ degree temperatures as well.

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The data has been more positive. Also the gov and states are much more prepared for anything that surfaces in the summer/fall. I think we have football with fans.

It really depends on A- where the pandemic is in late August and B- if the powers that be (Goodell, Trump etc) care enough about extra $ that they will risk a second wave by resuming stadium events etc before they probably should. So yes if I was guessing they probably will roll with fans present and say "we are taking extra precautions blah blah blah" to justify it.

From a tv perspective they'd probably want to lay in some crowd FX and cut to old shots of fans cheering otherwise you'd get that bizarre atmosphere the Wrestling event had.

Its a different situation but in the UK there's no stadium/rock concerts likely until 2021, and we are ahead of the USA peak I heard.

Bourne Patriot said:

From a tv perspective they'd probably want to lay in some crowd FX and cut to old shots of fans cheering otherwise you'd get that bizarre atmosphere the Wrestling event had.

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Sounds like the Jets will finally have a filled stadium. All it took was a pandemic.