When Will Fans Be Allowed At NBA Games?

The NBA has not released an official statement on when fans will be allowed back into games. However, they are exploring the idea of having a limited number of fans in attendance at games played in certain arenas.

Introduction

The NBA has been and continues to be at the forefront of addressing social injustice and promoting racial equality. In recent months, the league and its players have taken a stand against police brutality and systemic racism in response to the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other black Americans.

As the NBA looks to restart its season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the big questions is when fans will be allowed back in arenas. The answer, unfortunately, is still unknown.

In an interview with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on July 14, 2020, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said there’s still no clear timeline for when fans will be able to return to games.

“We would love to have fans back in our arenas,” Silver said. “It’s just not clear right now when that’s going to happen.”

The league is currently scheduled to resume its season on July 30 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. All games will be played without fans in attendance.

The NBA’s Current Plan

The NBA is planning to allow fans to attend games beginning in December, according to a memo sent to teams Tuesday and obtained by ESPN.

The memo, from NBA Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum to team presidents and general managers, said the league is targeting a Dec. 1 start date for fans in arenas. The memo said the league is working with health officials and civil authorities on a “variety of stringent safety protocols” that would need to be in place before fans are allowed.

“Our goal continues to be opening our arenas to fans as soon as it is safe and responsible to do so,” Tatum wrote in the memo. “We will provide further updates as circumstances warrant.”

The league has not released any details on what those safety protocols might entail. It’s unclear how many fans would be allowed in arenas or what percentage of capacity each arena would be permitted to open at.

What Other Leagues Are Doing

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams, and each team plays 82 regular season games. The NBA playoffs are a best-of-seven elimination tournament held after the regular season ends.

The NBA has not yet released its schedule for the 2020-21 season, but it is expected to start in December 2020 and end in June 2021. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBA played the 2019-20 season in a bubble at Walt Disney World in Florida. There were no fans in attendance at any games.

It is not yet known if fans will be allowed at NBA games during the 2020-21 season. The decision will likely depend on the status of the pandemic and local government guidelines. Other professional leagues in North America have released plans for allowing fans at their games.

The National Hockey League (NHL) is planning to have fans in attendance for its 2020-21 season, which is scheduled to start on January 1, 2021. The NHL has released a set of guidelines for how teams can allow fans into their arenas. These guidelines include capacity limits, socially distanced seating, and face coverings for all fans.

The National Football League (NFL) is also planning to have fans in attendance for its 2020-21 season, which is scheduled to start on September 10, 2021. The NFL has released similar guidelines to those of the NHL. Fans will be required to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing while inside NFL stadiums.

The Possibility of a Hybrid Approach

The NBA is considering a hybrid approach to allowing fans in arenas for the 2020-21 season, according to multiple reports.

The league is reportedly looking at the possibility of allowing a limited number of fans in each arena, with the potential to increase capacity as the season progresses. The NBA is also said to be looking at the possibility of having all fans in each arena be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The NBA has not yet made a final decision on whether or when fans will be allowed in arenas, and any plans are subject to change based on the status of the pandemic.

The Bottom Line

Currently, the NBA is not allowing fans at games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league has not said when fans will be allowed back, but it is hopeful that it will be sometime during the 2020-2021 season.