Professional Sports
UFC Could be a Blueprint
AZcentral.com, May 12, 2020
Coronavirus testing. Fan-free arena. Social distancing. Self-isolation. UFC President Dana White built upon these ideas to launch what some might regard as a blueprint for other sports leagues as they start to resume.
“The UFC created a 25-page document to address health and safety protocols, which included disinfecting the octagon before bouts and mandating tests and masks for nearly everyone in attendance.”
The day before the bouts, one fighter and two others tested positive for COVID-19. The fighter was pulled from his bout and removed from the hotel “where hundreds of UFC employees were staying this week in Jacksonville, Florida.”
“White said he never considered postponing UFC 249 following Jacare Souza’s positive test and got support from the Florida Athletic Commission, the governor, and local authorities.”
“The UFC has two more fight nights scheduled this week and plans to administer more than 1000 more coronavirus tests for everyone scheduled to take part.”
White wants to share what they have learned with other sports leagues, azcentral.com reported. “A lot can be learned by what we are doing here. Not just for professional sports but for sending people back to work and a lot of other things in life.”
White said, “we are still figuring this whole thing out” as he noted the only negative of the evening, the empty arena, “where punches, kicks, grunts, steps, trash talk, corner coaching and TV commentary echoed off metal beams and vacant seats.”
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Reflections by a Sports executive
The sports industry is affected in such a substantial way that it’s difficult to really figure how to continue until it’s considered safe to return to mass live sports. How could this happen?
- A vaccine. Problem solved.
- Research and understanding how the virus is spread. Can you get it from the guy sitting next to you in a huge arena or open air stadium? If not, would a simple hat with a facemask that prevented you from touching your face keep you safe enough to feel comfortable attending a USC game? If you can’t get it from your neighbor breathing on you in that environment and you can only get it by touching your face, would people feel safe to return to sports if a preventive face-touching mask or device was invented, comfortable and popular?
- Alternate technologies seem to be ripe for huge adoption — such as virtual reality. Can they get VR “live” so that you could buy a seat to the game, feel like you’re there, but not actually be there? This has long been a goal of sports VR but perhaps the monetary will power to push through and figure out the flaws is now there? I may reach out to my fiend at Facebook sports to see if they are approaching this more actively now.
- Instant testing becomes available and all athletes and production personnel are required to take an instantly verifiable (<15 min) test before the match or game. If you pass you can play. Teams hold all the scheduled games but with no fans – to the hugest TV ratings in history for companies like us because everybody’s home watching.
For the producers/photographers/engineers/etc. who have to travel to the athletes to create the content and I’m sure now it’s just a huge liability issue now to send us anywhere…
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Restarting the Major League Baseball season:
Professional sports are in a deep holding pattern. For many, following professional sports creates an emotional lift, which is just one of the many benefits provided by this segment of our economy. Many people are starving to see MLB, PGA, and the NBA start up again.
Wimbledon has been cancelled. Major tennis will be on the back burner at least until September, with the US Open. In Golf, the Masters Tournament has been rescheduled for the Fall, and the PGA and US Open tournaments will certainly be pushed to later in the year, if not cancelled.
Further, the Olympics has been rescheduled for 2021 and the Ryder Cup this year probably ought to be cancelled.
Some of this opens scheduling space for a revival of Major League Baseball.
This is an idea for reviving the MLB Season, consistent with CDC guidelines:
I propose two options.
Option A: Rather than having an American League and a National League this year, we should consider an Arizona League (Cactus League) and a Florida League (Grapefruit League).
Option B: Create a National League Division in Florida (7 teams) and a National League Division in AZ (8 teams); and an American League Division in Fla (8 teams) and an American League Division in AZ (7). Both the American and National Leagues would have 15 teams. for a total of 30.
Florida:
- National League: Braves, Marlins, Mets, Phillies, Pirates, Cardinals, Nationals (7)
- American League: Orioles, Red Sox, Tigers, Astros, Twins, Yankees, Rays, Blue Jays (8)
Total in Florida, 15
Arizona:
- National League: Diamondbacks, Giants, Padres, Dodgers, Rockies, Cubs, Reds, Brewers (8)
- American League: Royals, Angels, A’s, Mariners, Rangers, Indians, White Sox (7)
Total in Arizona, 15.
Key Considerations to meet CDC Guidelines:
· No team needs to get on a plane for the remainder of the season. All of the Cactus League teams play their regular season games and most Playoff games in Arizona. The same is true for all of the Grapefruit League Teams.
· No fans allowed for the foreseeable future. All Games will be televised back to their local markets
· Play all games in Spring Training Camps.
· Test all players, coaches, trainers, umpires daily/weekly
· Players use every other locker in the clubhouse to observe social distancing.
· Do the same in dugouts. (there are at least 10 pitchers in the bullpens, leaving only 16 in the dugout. Plenty of room for distancing.
We would need to think through how to address the closeness of batter/catcher/umpire. One answer would be to use electronic devices to call balls and strikes. The capability exists and is as accurate as an umpire. Umpires would remain as today in the field, safely away from the players. This would only be temporary.
We would need to think out how to protect the catcher and the batter.
We would also need to think out how to protect the First Baseman holding on the runner. Maybe we might have to modify a few things, like no stealing. This would create adequate protection.
Scheduling.
May-Sept…playing in AZ and Fla, where the day-time temps are 85-110 degrees. (If the COVID-19 ends up being seasonal, these geographies would reduce risk.)
Play-offs
There will be 2 National League Divisions and 2 American League Divisions, both in Fl and AZ. The American League champion in Fla plays the American League champion in AZ. Same routine in the National League.
Other than the use of electronics to call balls and strikes, there would be no other use of electronic replays. This takes us back to baseball prior to the installation of replays in the big ballparks and an umpire crew in NYC where the replays are reviewed. Not needed this year.
Could we live without stealing for one short season? Why not? Could we imagine a way to protect batter and catcher? Only if we try!
PLAY BALL!
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How Our Members Play Golf At A Private Club In Absolute Conformity With CDC Guideline
We conform to the Governor’s STAY AT HOME directive for the State of Arizona.
Our rules:
- Social distancing enforced on premises at all times, and on the golf course at all times. A minimum of six feet separation, and more is encouraged.
- No interaction with staff and only minimal services. Players fetch their clubs from their cars and walk them to a cart, or onto the course.
- Staff sanitize all golf carts or pull carts between rounds.
- No hand shaking before or after the round. A smile works.
- Touching of any foreign object is minimal. There are no rakes in traps. Pins stay put. Foam plug keeps balls from falling deeply into the hole.
- Maximum of two golf carts with any foursome, and only one rider at a time. Two golfers are walking at all times.
- Family members who live in the same household may ride two to a cart.
Other adjustments:
There are no guests allowed during this period so there are no excuses for noncompliance with rules.
Members are honor bound to not enter the premises if they are sick or have any of the symptoms tied to the virus.
No Tailgating with food or beverage, or any other form of congregating after a game. This is a direct violation of social distancing.
Members are honor bound to inform us if they have been out of the Country.
No mulligans. Noncompliance with the rules will cause an immediate shut down of the golf.
