Another team joins the ranks of franchises electing to compete in an empty stadium for the 2020 NFL season, as the Washington Football Team announced games at FedEx Field will be played without fans.
The Washington Football Team joins the Las Vegas Raiders in announcing they plan on having no fans at home games all season. The Giants and Jets do not expect fans at MetLife Stadium at the beginning of the season, and the Green Bay Packers do not expect fans in the Lambeau Field stands until Nov. 1. With preseason scrapped, and the regular season set to begin in a month (Sept. 10), we expect to see many more announcements like this come down the pike, with many states and local municipalities prohibiting gatherings of any size, much less anything on the scale of an NFL crowd.
The decision on an empty FedEx Field comes after the organization had developed a comprehensive health and safety plan in close coordination with the State of Maryland and Prince George’s County (MD). However, the team did not close the door on welcoming fans if circumstances change.
“We are fortunate to host the best fans in the NFL year after year, but the well-being of those supporters, along with that of our players, coaches and each and every member of our gameday staff is simply too important, and the current knowledge of COVID-19 too unpredictable, to welcome our fan base to FedExField to start the season,” said Washington Football Team owner Dan Snyder via press release. “We were the first team in the league to recall our scouts and other personnel from the field back in mid-March and have been monitoring this evolving situation ever since. This decision was not an easy one, but after several discussions with federal, state and local officials – along with input from some of the nation’s foremost medical experts, based right here in the nation’s capital – we are confident that it is the right one. We are working to find ways to make our fans’ presence felt in new and innovative ways for 2020 and can’t wait to welcome the community through the gates as soon as it’s safe.”
RELATED STORIES: Packers: No fans at Lambeau Field until third game; Raiders: No fans at Allegiant Stadium for 2020 NFL season; No fans at MetLife Stadium at start of 2020 NFL season: Giants, Jets; What will 2020 season look like for fans? Packers offer preview; NFL debates adjustments to 2020 operations; Fauci, NFL differ on approaches to COVID-19 prevention; Superdome renovations workers hit with coronavirus; Mercedes-Benz Superdome Renovation Underway; Superdome Subject of Multiple ADA Lawsuits as Renovation Planning Unfolds; First Phase of Mercedes-Benz Superdome Renovations Approved; Superdome Renovation Funding Plan Moves Forward; Superdome Renovation, Saints Lease Extension Talks Progressing; Saints Nearing Lease Extension That Would Include Mercedes-Benz Superdome Renovations