Mar 26, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; View of an empty Dodger Stadium on what was scheduled to be opening day against the San Francisco Giants. The game was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
COVID-19By Matt Clapp on

Monday brought a significant breakthrough on professional sports potentially returning soon amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

First, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he’s encouraging pro sports teams to reopen in the state, without fans.

“Hockey, basketball, baseball, football — whoever can reopen — we’re a ready, willing, and able partner,” Cuomo said during his daily press conference.

“I also have been encouraging major sports teams to plan reopenings without fans. But, the games could be televised. New York state will help those major sports franchises to do just that. Hockey, basketball, baseball, football — whoever can reopen — we’re a ready, willing, and able partner. 

Personal disclosure- I want to watch the Buffalo Bills. But, I’m still objective; I’m acting as governor. There’s no personal agenda here. Yes, I do want to watch the Bills, but that is not subverting my role as governor. I think this is in the best interest of all the people, and in the best interest of the state of New York.”

Just a few hours later, California Governor Gavin Newsom said that pro sports could return to the state without fans “by the first week or so of June.”

“We expect — if we hold the rate of transmissions, we hold the positivity rate down, we continue to do justice to the hospitilaztion and ICU numbers — that we’ll be making announcements statewide — not just with the regional variances — that will allow for retail, not just to be picked up, but in-store retail to be loosened up.

In addition to that, sporting events, pro sports, in that first week or so of June without spectators, and modifications and very prescriptive conditions, also can begin to move forward.

And a number sectors of our economy will open up, again, if we hold these trendlines in the next number of weeks.”

Newsom — a big sports fan and former pitcher for the Santa Clara baseball team — had previously been very pessimistic on the idea of pro sports returning soon in California. On April 14, Newsom said sports were “unlikely” in California this summer.

So, Newsom’s comments on Monday are rather surprising, and have to please pro sports commissioners and owners of California teams.

California is home to three NFL teams (Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers), four NBA teams (Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Sacramento Kings), five MLB teams (Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland A’s, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants), three NHL teams (Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks), and two MLS teams (Los Angeles FC and San Jose Earthquakes).

Pro sports leagues have been discussing playing in just one to two locations for a variety of reasons.

The NBA, for example, has been looking at playing all of their games in just Las Vegas and/or Orlando, with commissioner Adam Silver recently telling players that it would be safer and allow the league to speed up the playoffs (with the hope of having seven-game series each round).

There have also been reports of MLB looking to just play in Arizona and/or Florida, but star players such as the Angels’ Mike Trout and the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw have been vocal about being very much against any plan that doesn’t allow them to be around families. Being able to play at their home ballparks in California — and sleep in their own homes — is something that would surely be far more appealing to Trout and Kershaw. And MLB’s latest reported plan/hope involves playing in as many home ballparks as possible, so California and New York (who has the Mets and Yankees) allowing home games would go a long way to making that feasible leaguewide.

Pro sports leagues stil have a lot to figure out with beginning/resuming their leagues, but New York and California allowing games at their home stadiums would definitely increase the options.

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor at The Comeback. He attended Colorado State University, wishes he was Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris, and idolizes Larry David. And loves pizza and dogs because obviously.

He can be followed on Twitter at @Matt2Clapp (also @TheBlogfines for Cubs/MLB tweets and @DaBearNecess for Bears/NFL tweets), and can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.

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