NBA Sends Teams Memo Outlining Protocols For Hosting Fans

The NBA has sent its 30 teams a memo detailing the tentative protocols for hosting fans in arenas during the 2020/21 season, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (all Twitter links).

[RELATED: NBA Hopes To Have Some Fans In Arenas To Start Season]

Whether or not teams will be able to fill their arenas to partial capacity will depend in large part on the restrictions imposed by the municipal and state governments in each NBA market. Large-scale gatherings are still prohibited in many areas around the U.S. and the NBA’s protocols and regulations obviously wouldn’t overrule those restrictions.

However, in places where larger gatherings are permitted, the league will have its own protocols in place. According to Charania, some of those – outlined in today’s memo – will be as follows:

  • Fans within 30 feet of the courts must register a negative coronavirus test two days prior to the game or – if using a rapid test – on the day of the game.
  • Food and beverage won’t be permitted for fans within 30 feet of the court.
  • Fans (above the age of two) will be required to wear masks, social-distance, and undergo symptom surveys.
  • Teams will have the option of installing plexiglass behind their benches.
  • If arena suites are filled to 25% capacity or less, coronavirus testing won’t be required for fans in those suites.
  • Teams could fill those suites up to 50% capacity if all fans are tested or if the local county’s COVID-19 numbers meet certain thresholds (a positive test rate of 3% or less, plus a seven-day average of 10 or fewer new cases per 100,000 residents).

With the start of the 2020/21 regular season less than six weeks away, I imagine we’ll soon get further clarity and more official details from the NBA on its healthy and safety protocols for the coming year.

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