Three governors nourish the hope for a restart of US sports in June. However, in doing so, they are setting a clear prerequisite.
California’s Governor Gavin Newsom can imagine, despite the corona crisis, that sporting events in his state are feasible from June.
“Sports events, professional sports in the first week of June or so, without spectators and under very specific conditions, may be possible,” Newsom said on Monday. California is home to 18 franchises from the major US professional sports leagues.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was equally positive and interested. “I have also encouraged major sports teams to plan reopenings without fans,” Cuomo said at his daily briefing.
“The games could be televised. The state of New York will help the big sports franchises do just that. Ice hockey, basketball, baseball, soccer – whoever can start again, we’re a willing, able and able partner.”
In the state of Texas, too, sport is about to return. Governor Gregg Abbott gave the go-ahead for basketball, baseball, motor sports, soccer, golf, softball and tennis from May 31 – on one condition: no spectators.