Calif. gov.: No 'filled' stadiums without vaccine or immunity

California's Governor has indicated that sports venues in California, like the Rose Bowl, could remain empty until there is a vaccine for the coronavirus. Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

California governor: No 'filled' stadiums without coronavirus vaccine or immunity

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 5/7/20

As Steve Gardner of USA Today noted on April 28, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared no major live professional or collegiate sports would occur in the state until stay-at-home orders were lifted amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Per Sports Business Journal's Ben Fischer, Newsom hinted on Thursday that games will occur either without fans or with decreased percentages of spectators at venues:

The NFL & teams have been working the phones with governors/mayors before the schedule release tonight, hoping to avoid a political fight & emphasizing they'll adapt as the pandemic warrants.

Has it worked? California Gov. @GavinNewsom was asked today about the schedule release: pic.twitter.com/7NamxA3tgv
— Ben Fischer (@BenFischerSBJ) May 7, 2020

"On the sports question, it's difficult to imagine a stadium that's filled until we have immunity, until we have a vaccine," Newsom said during his daily coronavirus briefing.

He also asked what safety protocols will be implemented by clubs, programs, and leagues regarding coronavirus testing and the steps taken if any team personnel test positive for the virus.

Earlier in the day, Dutch health minister Hugo de Jonge informed the country's parliament he doesn't believe fans should attend events such as football matches without the existence of an available vaccine.

He wrote:

"We cannot yet mention a date for the last step, the mass gatherings. That is actually only possible if there is a vaccine and no one knows how long it will take. We hope of course soon, but a year or more is very real."

Sports in Holland remain indefinitely suspended until at least the end of August.

Steve Almasy, Faith Karimi, and Dakin Andone of CNN have reported that experts fear a coronavirus vaccine won't be available to the public by the end of the year.

None of the top-four North American professional sports competitions nor the NCAA have officially announced plans to resume or begin seasons affected by the virus outbreak.

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