Dolphins owner Stephen Ross says NFL will 'definitely' play this season amid coronavirus
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross might just be using some power of positive thinking, but his comments about this season seem to reflect the optimism of the NFL as a whole.
In an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, Ross left no doubt that he believes the NFL will play its season despite the coronavirus outbreak. His only doubt has to do with fans in stadiums.
It’s more complicated than just wishing it into being. The NFL will have to formulate a plan for testing and safety. The players will have to feel comfortable with it. But Ross seems pretty confident.
Stephen Ross ‘definitely’ thinks there will be NFL season
Ross doesn’t seem worried about the NFL having to change its plans for a season, even if he isn’t entirely sure there will be fans there. He did say, however, the NFL is planning to have fans in stadiums.
“I think there definitely will be a football season this year,” Ross said, via Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com. “Real question is, will there be fans in the stadium? Right now — today — we're planning to have fans in the stadium.”
Saying there will be a season doesn’t ensure there will be one. Even if Ross uses the word “definitely.” But it’s a sign of the NFL’s mentality about the situation.
“We all miss our sports,” Ross told CNBC. “The NFL, I think, will be ready to go. I know we're all looking forward to it. I know I am.”
NFL expresses confidence
The NFL got lucky with timing. All other major sports had to make decisions about games. The NFL’s first regular season game isn’t until Sept. 10.
The NFL’s mindset has been to push forward, which has gotten some criticism. The league held its free agency period as scheduled and its draft was watched by a record number of people. The NFL released its regular season schedule this month, and while it was stated on the broadcast that things could change, there weren’t many obvious contingency plans built into the 17-week schedule. The league said there’s no alternate secret schedule. Publicly, the NFL is expressing nothing but optimism.
Maybe fans won’t be in the stadium, or maybe plans will change altogether in the next few months based on developments with the health crisis. But the NFL’s confidence hasn’t seemed to waver at all.
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