NFL opens to full stadiums as COVID-19 surges

Tom Brady calmly ran out from a smoke-filled tunnel, leading the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers onto the sector Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys ahead of a full stadium for the primary time since COVID-19 upended the planet and altered the way sports were viewed.

The NFL began its biggest season — teams are playing a 17-game schedule — with no capacity limitations because the league follows the NBA, NHL, MLB, NCAA, et al. in opening its doors to sold-out stadiums.

While there have been no restrictions within the preseason, stadiums weren’t completely filled as many fans skip exhibition games.

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That wasn’t the case at Raymond James Stadium with quite 65,000 fans beginning to ascertain the Buccaneers celebrate their championship before beginning the defense of their crown.

The NFL began its biggest season — teams are playing a 17-game schedule — with no capacity limitations because the league follows the NBA, NHL, MLB, NCAA, et al. in opening its doors to sold-out stadiums.

While there have been no restrictions within the preseason, stadiums weren’t completely filled as many fans skip exhibition games.

That wasn’t the case at Raymond James Stadium with quite 65,000 fans beginning to ascertain the Buccaneers celebrate their championship before beginning the defense of their crown.

“Seven months ago, we made NFL history,” owner Bryan Glazer told the screaming fans during a quick pre-game ceremony. “There was one thing missing: All of you. Welcome back to Raymond James Stadium.”

Fans are returning as COVID-19 surges, with about 150,000 news cases daily. The delta variant is filling hospitals, children are becoming sick, and a few schools are abruptly switching back to remote learning due to outbreaks. The U.S. price stands at quite 650,000, with one major forecast model projecting it’ll top 750,000 by Dec. 1 — deep into the NFL season.

“We and our clubs are in daily and regular conversations with local and state authorities, but as we sit here immediately, we don’t anticipate any reduction in capacity this year,” Peter O’Reilly, NFL executive vice chairman of club business and events, said within the league’s last briefing.

“We really feel good about where we stand, given the vaccination rates across the country, and feel as if we’ll be ready to move through the season. Obviously, we don’t take anything for granted; we work closely on all of our protocols, working with and under the guidance of these state and native authorities. As we sit here today, all 30 stadiums are ready to be at full capacity and that’s how we expect to travel through the season in lockstep with those local and state authorities.”

NFL teams can have different stadium policies and protocols. The Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders, and New Orleans Saints are requiring fans to supply proof of vaccination to enter. Other teams may join them along the way.

“While people are still getting sick, people aren’t dying at an equivalent rate, consistent with the statistics. That’s the key,” said Dr. Rand McLain, chief medic of Live Cell Research Health.

“You return to where it started, hospitals were loading up and an inordinate amount of individuals were dying. We’re past that now a minimum of at this point , though we’ve the delta variant and therefore the mu variant beating the vaccines. From there, being outside may be a huge plus. You’re not seeing the transmission when there’s a breeze blowing.”

“We’re vaccinated, we followed all the principles and we’re not afraid,” said Bucs fan Terry Leonas, who snagged a pair of tickets eleventh hour off a lover who couldn’t make the sport .

“We’re not taking any chances,” said Carl Esperson, the lone Cowboys fan among six friends wearing their Bucs jerseys.”

The Tampa Sports Authority is constant with enhanced cleaning and disinfection of high-traffic areas. All restrooms are retrofitted with touchless fixtures and every one concession stands will have plexiglass dividers, with staff wearing masks. All parking lots and concessions will still be completely cashless this season.

“As we’ve stated right along , our top priority has been, and continues to be, the security of all players, coaches, staff, and fans at our games,” said Buccaneer’s chief operating officer Brian Ford.

A Florida judge ruled Wednesday that the state cannot enforce a ban on public schools mandating the utilization of masks to protect against the coronavirus, while an appellate court sorts out whether the ban is ultimately legal.