As the beginning of the 2020/21 NBA season approaches, the Magic and Spurs have emerged as the latest teams with plans to host fans inside their arenas.
Orlando and San Antonio join the Jazz as teams to have announced they will allow spectators during the 2020/21 season. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic – and no longer playing in a campus setting – the league has stressed safety and health precautions.
The Spurs announced that the organization plans to welcome fans starting on January 1, 2021, for a matchup against the Lakers. Seating at the games will be “limited capacity, pending the status of public health data and guidelines.”
“We’ve been planning for this moment for months and are confident in the health and safety protocols we have in place,” said Spurs Sports & Entertainment CEO R.C. Buford. “Waiting until Jan. 1 will allow us to run through real in-game scenarios to ensure that we are doing everything possible to responsibly celebrate the start of a new season with our Spurs Family.”
As for the Magic, their press release states that plans are being made to host fans in a “socially distanced, limited capacity at the Amway Center.” First priority will be given to season ticket holders based on tenure and then fans who made a season ticket deposit. The team will also release tickets to the general public on a game-by-game basis.
“As we have said, the health and safety of everyone connected to our game will be top priority,” said Magic CEO Alex Martins. “Our goal is to make everyone feel comfortable that extensive safety precautions have been taken for the return to Amway Center. We continue to work through protocols as outlined by the NBA, CDC and local health officials and will use the preseason as a trial to assess and evaluate safety measures.”
The 2020/21 NBA season is scheduled to tip off on December 22.
Not going to happen, but nice to think about.
Figures, Texas and Florida. Two states with some of the least restrictions and biggest surges in cases.
Headline should be Spurs, Magic DGAF.
There’s a story somewhere re: a progressive guy like Pop living and working through all this in San Antonio
He can always retire and become a politician to make change
Also: does anyone foresee the upcoming season not having a 2 week break while everyone moves onto a campus again? Playing outside the bubble while cases are skyrocketing nationwide (thanks to election/going outside to vote) is a recipe for disaster.
Saying that we are inviting large groups of people to a gathering and that safety is a top priority is about as oxymoronic as it gets during global pandemic.
Why …. if they go more than 25% occupancy. Won’t work. I guess Magic and Spurs don’t care. They ain’t going to playoffs. Still what about other team. NBA will be able to buy the vaccine soon enough.