Coronavirus and sports

[Itse]

Originally Posted by heep223

Austrian League has just shut down their season. This is unbelievable.

erstebankliga‏Verified account @erstebankliga

The Erste Bank Eishockey Liga has to end the current season. With this action, the League is responding to the measures and recommendations of the governments and competent authorities in the participating countries. Details: http://bit.ly/Saison_beendet

While radical, they had played 40/44 games, and 1st and 2nd place teams were essentially guaranteed already. (Red Bull Salzburg had a five point lead, and Vienna Capitals were 10 points above the third.) With no playoffs, it's not as big of a deal as it would be in most other leagues.

[transplant99]

The DEL has now called it a season apparently....were just about to start their playoffs.

Things are moving swiftly.

[Old Yeller]

According to a Darren Dreger tweet, the German league just shut down for the season:

https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/sta...27687997792257

[Mattman]

The Serie A - Italy's top Soccer League - has gone ahead with playing the games untill April 3rd (at the earliest) with no fans in attendance.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.for...4-million/amp/

The Italian quarantine will result in nearly $34 million lost in just 29 games played through to April 3rd.

The good thing I guess for sports fans is that the games are still broadcasted, but that's it. Not likely to see any journalists or reporters doing post game interviews as the league wants to protect their players at all costs.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

It depends on the spread of the virus locally, I think they will postpone the playoffs though.

I don't even know how that would work. It is already difficult enough to get game dates for playoff teams stretching into June when most arenas are already booked with spring/summer concerts and events. I think it is logistically more likely the playoffs are cancelled altogether than postponed.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

They are in different counties, so aren't under this same order.

And luckily COVID-19 absolutely respects county boundaries.

[powderjunkie]

One possibility would be into the late summer/early fall, and modifying the following regular season. It's a race against time, but maybe they're able to get down to 8 teams before public gatherings become impossible everywhere...obviously impossible to predict.

A question I have is how do total league revenues compare on a weekly basis right now (with 31 teams playing ~3 games per week each at 'regular' ticket prices) vs. April & May (fewer teams playing fewer games at much higher prices).

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I don't even know how that would work. It is already difficult enough to get game dates for playoff teams stretching into June when most arenas are already booked with spring/summer concerts and events. I think it is logistically more likely the playoffs are cancelled altogether than postponed.

I am hopeful the risk start to diminish as the weather gets warmer and containment measures begin to take effect.

One option might be last part of season is cancelled and you modify the playoffs to be shorter/ more condensed. More teams, shorter series maybe?

[Saqe]

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronav...-social-media/

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Saqe

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronav...-social-media/

I, at times, have to remind myself how stupid some people can be.

Reading that is one of those times.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

One possibility would be into the late summer/early fall, and modifying the following regular season. It's a race against time, but maybe they're able to get down to 8 teams before public gatherings become impossible everywhere...obviously impossible to predict.

A question I have is how do total league revenues compare on a weekly basis right now (with 31 teams playing ~3 games per week each at 'regular' ticket prices) vs. April & May (fewer teams playing fewer games at much higher prices).

I don't think "public gatherings becoming impossible" is a certainty. The effects of the virus have been relatively minimal in places like South East Asia, Japan and Australia with some incredibly large populations to consider and the virus has been known to be present for several weeks now.

The next 10 days in the Americas may paint a different picture entirely, but there is evidence to suggest it may not turn into the same situation here as it has in Italy, China, Iran. Everyone needs to calm down and stop assuming the worst until we see more signs indicating this is going to spiral out of control here.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Governor of Colorado has just declared a State Emergency, granting him the power to ban large public gatherings.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I am hopeful the risk start to diminish as the weather gets warmer and containment measures begin to take effect.

I don't think scientists even know for sure if this virus will follow climate patterns. It's summer in Australia and it seems to be spreading there at a similar rate to the U.S. and Canada.

It could be because it is a novel virus and humans do not have any built up immunity yet, but it could also be a virus that fares just as well in warm weather as in cold.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I, at times, have to remind myself how stupid some people can be.

Reading that is one of those times.

It’s also confirmation (if any were needed) that Russia is weaponizing social media.

[lambeburger]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

It’s also confirmation (if any were needed) that Russia is weaponizing social media.

Nah, it's just a confirmation that social media has made idiocy that much more contagious.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

And luckily COVID-19 absolutely respects county boundaries.

No, but that's actually beside the point. Absent the order from county officials, there's no chance the Sharks would have closed SAP Center on their own either. It's really going to be up to county and state(/provincial) health officials to say when and what arenas get shut down.

[Hot_Flatus]

https://theathletic.com/1665974/2020...-from-fiction/

Nice to see some completely level-headed comments from Tre and the Flames.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Everyone needs to calm down and stop assuming the worst until we see more signs indicating this is going to spiral out of control here.

Well I'd say based on what's happened in Italy and that the crap is about to hit the fan in US, there's quite a few signs that things could spiral out of control here quite quickly.

I don't think people are assuming the worst. But you need to consider worst case scenarios are possible. It's far more dangerous to stick your fingers in your ears and pretend we'll be fine then entertain the possibility that containment in Canada will fail.

[dash_pinched]

You're going to need an Italian-style lockdown to prevent fans from getting together in large groups even if you decide to play games in empty stadiums/arenas.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1237455747677655040

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Well I'd say based on what's happened in Italy and that the crap is about to hit the fan in US, there's quite a few signs that things could spiral out of control here quite quickly.

I don't think people are assuming the worst. But you need to consider worst case scenarios are possible. It's far more dangerous to stick your fingers in your ears and pretend we'll be fine then entertain the possibility that containment in Canada will fail

There is so much more to consider than simply inferring that because it went nuts in Italy, it is going to do the same here. Actively suggesting the crap is about to hit the fan in the US and Canada is pretty much how we end up with empty aisles of TP and bottled water. Relax.

Many countries also showed cases days, if not weeks ago and they have not blown up either. It could happen, but it is not right to act like it is a foregone conclusion. In the meantime wash your hands and go about your business.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9j8HO8D..._web_copy_link