RingSide Report

World News, Social Issues, Politics, Entertainment and Sports

The Impact of COVID-19 on American Sports

[AdSense-A]

By Larry Daniels

Intro

The impact of COVID-19 on American sports, and society as a whole is far reaching. It is that sudden medical condition that wreaks havoc on our families, schedules, and pocket books. The problem is the entire world has to suit up and fight this disease at the exact same time. We have to scramble to figure out a way protect each other during everyday interactions. This article will attempt to explore how major sports in America are attempting to protect players and fans. The current CDC guidelines will be used as a check for comparison against what safety protocols the specific sports are enacting. I will serve as a ref and offer suggestions to make it better. If I step out of line, my editor is a lifetime boxing expert who will make sure I stay on track! You, the reader, will be protected. Guaranteed.

The Current CDC Guidelines

A sporting event is defined as a gathering in CDC guidelines.

• The more people an individual interacts with at a gathering and the longer that interaction lasts, the higher the potential risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and COVID-19 spreading.

• The higher the level of community transmission in the area that the gathering is being held, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spreading during a gathering.

• The size of an event or gathering should be determined based on state, local, territorial or tribal safety laws and regulations.

• Highest risk: Large in person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6′ apart and attendees travel from outside the local area.

WNBA

The Women’s National Basketball Association: A group of the very best basketball players in the world. When you watch them on TV, you can’t help but hear the sound of the high-pitched squealing of children during a fantastic, no-look, driving dish to the corner for a 3 pointer! Start them out young. It is a beautiful thing parents are doing here!

Reality hit me in the mouth here. If you hadn’t heard the news, here is a news clip from the WNBA website:

“NEW YORK, July 6, 2020 – In tests conducted of 137 WNBA players between June 28-July 5, seven players have tested positive for the coronavirus.
(Red Flag) The 6ft guideline during play in an indoor arena, even with masking in place, comes into play here.
WNBA revenue per game in 2019 = $245,000
Approximate revenue per game in ticket sales, corporate sponsorship, concessions = $105,350”

MLS

Major League Soccer: A collection of top professional soccer players from around the world. MLS is the most watched sport in the world. To see a corner kick; two superb athletes soaring through the air like eagles straining to affect a serious outcome in the match is something to behold.
Currently, MLS is holding a “MLS is Back” tournament in Disneyworld, located in Orlando, Florida. Approximately 1900 players and staff have been tested in the past few weeks leading up to the matches and more than 30 have already tested positive. FC, Dallas and Nashville, SC have dropped out of the 26-team field due to positive tests.

(red flag) Soccer fans are from all over the world. Out of town guideline here. Local area is swimming in COVID-19.

MLS Revenue per match in 2019 = $2,500,000

Approximate revenue from ticket sales, corporate sponsorship, concessions = $1,075,000 per match

NHL

The National Hockey League: A collection of the very best hockey players from around the world. In a breakaway situation, with a player bearing down on a goaltender at speeds above 20mph, a decision has to be made whether to deke; double deke on the backhand side; or hold, pull, and fire the wrister over the goalie’s glove hand… in less than a second. Whoa!

The NHL was reported to have the following announcement on June 1st:

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the NHL plans to test all players, every day when games start happening.

“We will have a rigorous daily testing protocol where players are tested every evening and those results are obtained before they would leave their hotel rooms the next morning, so we’ll know if we have a positive test and whether the player has to self-quarantine himself as a result of that positive test,” Daly said. “It’s expensive, but we think it’s really a foundational element of what we’re trying to accomplish.”
I applaud the aggressive testing regimen here. The players have a better idea of their safety.

NHL revenue per game in 2019 = $3,300,000

Approximate revenue from ticket sales, corporate sponsorship, concessions = $1,419,000

NBA

National Basketball Association: A collection of the finest basketball players in the world. I see the NBA as an athletic ballet. Soaring through the air, twisting, adjusting in midflight to deliver a thunderous dunk. A collection of dazzling passes throughout a well-thought-out play to find the open player for a 3 pointer. So much fun.

In an article dated July 2nd, the following information was given.

Ahead of the resumption of the 2019-20 NBA season in Orlando in July, NBA teams began testing players for the coronavirus last week. There was a new update on Thursday, when the league announced that 25 of 351 players tested since June 23rd have been positive for COVID-19; That equates to 7.1 percent of all players.

(red flag) Tragedy here. Scrambling plans have to be made.

NBA Revenue in 2019 per game = $5,800,000

Approximate revenue from ticket sales, corporate sponsorship, concessions = $2,494,000

MLB

Major League Baseball: A collection of the finest baseball players in the world. You are in the batter’s box. A pitcher is throwing a baseball above 90mph at the plate near you. In less then a second you have to determine whether the pitch is a heater, deuce, or an off-speed dazzler. Your job is to put a massive amount of wooden kinetic energy on that baby. Not easy!

The article below appeared today, hot off the press:

“The final round of COVID-19 intake testing in MLB showed 66 positives in 3,748 total samples, a positive rate of 1.8 percent, the league and its players association jointly announced Friday morning.
Of the 66 positive tests, 58 were players and eight were staff members. There was at least one positive test on 27 different teams.
(red flag) One player each was positive on 27 teams. They start play this month. Changes must occur.

MLB revenue in 2019 per game = $3,900,000

Approximate revenue from ticket sales, corporate sponsorship, concessions = $1,677,000

NFL

National Football League: A professional collection of the strongest, fastest, toughest players of American football.

League officials and the players association have agreed on one thing for the coming season – No jersey swaps. Okay… That’s a start.

The collision sport with slobber-knocker hits and 10 to 14, 300 lb. humans wrestling on the line of scrimmage does not lend itself to social distancing. Huddles? Nope. Let’s see what they come up with. I suggest testing everybody: players, refs, ball boys, etc., before every game.
NFL Revenue per game in 2019 = $42,000,000

Approximate revenue from ticket sales, corporate sponsorship, concessions = $18,060,000

Conclusion

My approximate revenue on the tickets, sponsorship, concessions percentage was based on a value given to the Green Bay Packers in 2018 (43%). A large chunk of this revenue should disappear from our sports. Packed stadiums or half full ones are not safe. Tulsa anyone? Ask Herman Cain and Kimberly Guilfoyle. Unless the NFL tests everyone and their Mom, the NHL is only sport concerned about protecting players right now.

I love sports. I really do. I love the health and lives of my fellow humans way more though.

[si-contact-form form=’2′]