What Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 update really means for California sports teams
California Gov. Gavin Newsom created some excitement Monday when he said professional sports could resume without spectators in June, but there was no joy in communities where teams won’t play ball until live-audience events are allowed.
Newsom said sporting events without crowds could be permitted in the first or second week of June if current COVID-19 trends hold. His remarks reflected a new level of optimism after weeks of grim assessments regarding the return of sports.
“Sporting events, pro sports, in that first week or so of June, without spectators and (with) modifications and very prescriptive conditions, also can begin to move forward,” Newsom said.
Newsom offered that assessment while discussing his hope that California can soon move into Stage 3 of the state’s plan to ease coronavirus restrictions. Newsom said live-audience sporting events won’t be permitted until Stage 4 — a step that requires a vaccine or other therapeutic treatments for COVID-19 — which could take months or years to achieve.
Changing guidelines would bode well for NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball officials as they explore ways to return without spectators, but sources said that is not a viable option in Minor League Baseball.
“The River Cats are very excited to hear that sports may begin next month in California, albeit without fans, as this is a very important first step to the full return of sports,” said Chip Maxson, general manager of the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. “Playing baseball at Sutter Health Park is still dependent on several governing bodies that include MLB, MiLB, West Sacramento, Yolo County and the State of California. The MiLB business model is reliant on large gatherings of fans in our ballparks so we continue to encourage everyone to be respectful and stay safe in hopes that we are all able to see Stage 4 of the governor’s plan and the full return of sports sooner than later.”
California is home to five Major League Baseball teams, four NBA teams, three NFL teams, three NHL teams, three Major League Soccer teams, one WNBA team and more than three dozen minor league baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer teams. A move to Stage 3 under Newsom’s plan would mean different things to different teams across the region.
Sacramento Kings
The NBA is eager to resume the season with hopes of playing out the remainder of its regular-season and postseason schedule. The governor’s comments would conceivably clear the way for the Kings to prepare to play games at Golden 1 Center, but the NBA seems to have other plans.
Commissioner Adam Silver said it wouldn’t make sense to fly teams from city to city to play games in empty home arenas. Instead, the NBA is considering the idea of playing all games at one or two centralized locations, which could include Las Vegas and Orlando.
Some Kings players have returned to the team practice facility for individual workouts. Stage 3 might allow the Kings to return to full practices, if permitted by the NBA.
“Our top priority remains everyone’s health and well-being,” the Kings said in a recent statement. “We continue to work with the NBA as they review all options for return to play in consultation with public health officials and in line with governmental directives and guidance.”
San Francisco 49ers
A move to Stage 3 wouldn’t change much for the 49ers in the short term, but it might help them solidify their summer plans. They can now prepare to begin training camp as scheduled in late July — and they can do it at the team facility in Santa Clara instead of leaving the state.
The 49ers are tentatively scheduled to visit the Denver Broncos for their preseason opener Aug. 15. The 49ers are also scheduled to visit the Chicago Bears on Aug. 29. The 49ers will have preseason home games against the Las Vegas Raiders on Aug. 21 and the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 3 before playing the Arizona Cardinals in their season opener Sept. 13 at Levi’s Stadium.
The NFL will allow teams to reopen practice facilities on a limited basis beginning Tuesday, but the 49ers will have to wait under stricter guidelines currently in place in Santa Clara County.
According to Forbes, the NFL would lose $5.5 billion in stadium revenues if the 2020 season is played without spectators. The 49ers would lose $492 million in total revenue and $208 million in stadium revenue.
A’s/Giants
Stage 3 of the reopening plan would allow the A’s and Giants to play in their home ballparks under Major League Baseball’s plan to start the season without spectators in early July.
Major league owners have approved a plan for an 82-game season, but negotiations with the Major League Baseball Players Association hit a snag with a proposed 50-50 revenue split. The plan calls for teams to start training camp in mid-June at home stadiums or spring training sites.
Newsom, who previously questioned whether sports should return at all without a vaccine, softened his stance days after Major League Baseball released a 67-page protocol for handling health and safety issues.
Sacramento Republic FC
Sacramento Republic FC played one game before its season was suspended due to the COVID-19 crisis.
The United Soccer League is looking at all options to play as many games as possible, including the possibility of playing games without fans, but no decisions have been made. With 35 teams in 25 states, the USL faces a complex matrix of state and local rules.
The Republic is preparing for its move to Major League Soccer in 2022. Republic President Ben Gumpert recently told The Bee plans for a 20,000-seat stadium in the downtown railyards are still on schedule.
Sacramento River Cats
California has eight teams in the Class-A California League and two teams in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, including the River Cats. Minor League Baseball officials have made it clear they don’t plan to play games without fans.
“With our business model, it’s really a nonstarter,” said Jeff Lantz, MiLB’s senior director of communications. “Our teams need the gates open and (people) in seats with a beer in one hand and a hotdog in the other, just to survive. If we play games but don’t open the gates, that’s zero revenue. It’s just not feasible with our business model.”
This story was originally published May 20, 2020 at 6:39 AM.
