How Sports Survived COVID-19

We’ve all come to accept that we’re living in a new-normal due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily we’ve seen the return of professional sports to help keep our spirits up. Leagues like the WNBA and NWSL set the gold standard for how to return to normalcy during a pandemic. The NFL and MLB, on the other hand, has been busy rearranging games due to players and personnel testing positive what seems like every week.

Not all players felt comfortable returning during this time. For health concerns, some chose to stay home with their families. While others like Renee Montgomery and Kyrie Irving thought there was a bigger calling for them in this moment. Players agreed to return if the leagues promised to make the season spotlight social justice.

WNBA

The WNBA ran the most restrictive yet flawless programs with one bubble city location, IMG Academy in Bradenton Florida. Before even arriving at IMG, players were tested three times. Players arrived 18 days before the season started. Teams were only allowed 18 total members staff and players. Everyone quarantined for the first four days with only two positive tests recorded during that time. There was not another positive case in the Wubble. Masks were required in public spaces. One positive of the Wubble experience? This was an excellent chance to help grow the audience by having half of the games televised. New fans were likely captured this season as they were finally exposed to a healthy dose of women’s basketball on their televisions.

Both Major League Soccer and and the National Women’s Soccer League also chose to do a bubble city approach to a return. After seeing the success, the NBA quickly thought to do the same and chose to replicate it.

NHL

The NHL’s season was cut short by COVID-19. It returned to play four months later and the regular season was declared over. Twenty-four of the top teams in the league competed in a round-robin style competition to determine playoff seedings. It was the first of the major sports leagues in the United States to crown a champion during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two hub cities, Edmonton and Toronto, were chosen to host the teams. Each team resided on a single floor of a designated hotel. Teams were allowed to travel with up to 52 members including players, owners, and coaches. There were testing and temperature checks daily. No fans were present at any point. Player’s families were not allowed into the “hub cities” until after the conference finals. Masks were required in public space.

MLB

COVID-19 was a disaster for Major League Baseball. Luckily, not because of any major health concerns, but it was a disaster for the league’s reputation. Major League Baseball’s season was not interrupted like the NBA and NHL. Yet they still could not come to an agreement with players and had a public argument about money, during a global pandemic. Millions of people lost their jobs and Major League Baseball owners were publicly disputing with their players about money. Commission Rob Manfred had to step in because the two sides could not come to an agreement. When they did return, the league chose not to have any type of bubble cities until the playoffs. The result? Multiple teams had outbreaks, multiple games had to be rescheduled, but the season was completed.

The playoff bubble cities proved efficient. Up until yesterday, the league had gone 54 days without a positive test recorded. That was until the middle of Game 6 of the World Series when Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner was removed from the game for having a positive COVID-19 test. For some inexplicable reason, he was allowed to return to the field and celebrate with his teammates, including hugging teammates and touching the trophy. MLB is now launching an investigation into the matter, but the damage could already be done. He was celebrating without a mask on! Major League Baseball, do better next season.

In conclusion, wear a damn mask.