The world was turned upside down because of the Covid-19 pandemic. And amidst the global disorder, the NFL had to function in uncharted territory during 2020 as they held their season with barely any or no fans in stadiums. But Ravens president Dick Cass had an encouraging statement for fans ahead of the 2021 season.
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Other sports have laid the foundation for how the stadiums can be opened for fans. Baseball fans packed the stands of Globe Life Field after the Texas Rangers opened their doors to 100% capacity, making the game the first North American sporting event without attendance restrictions since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Below is the *first* full capacity crowd (40,000 people) at an American sports event since the #COVID19 pandemic hit. The Texas #Rangers are currently the only team among all 4 major pro sports in America to allow full capacity. #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/cNcqd3mU0U
— Michael Bier (@_DTXMichael) April 5, 2021
Dick Cass put out a statement anticipating full capacity attendance in 2021.
“With the NFL Draft now behind us, the excitement of adding new impact players to our roster provides even greater enthusiasm for the upcoming season. We are all looking forward to the chance to see live Ravens football at an M&T Bank Stadium filled with fans.”
“Our plan for the 2021 season includes a full capacity while maintaining necessary and expected protocols that allow for the safest possible environment for all guests. As you know, we hosted a limited number of fans for games last year. This allowed us to implement many new safety procedures that will be permanent going forward. These include contactless entry via mobile ticketing and touchless kiosks, cashless purchasing throughout the stadium, and enhanced sanitization measures.”
Player introductions in an empty NFL stadium. #Texans pic.twitter.com/CCHSli878g
— Sean Pendergast (@SeanTPendergast) September 20, 2020
“We are seeing many successful and safe outdoor events taking place throughout the country. Starting with Super Bowl LV in February, which safely hosted 25,000 fans. All Major League Baseball teams are hosting fans on a limited basis. And, as restrictions are relaxed, will be looking to increase their capacities throughout the summer. Pimlico’s Triple-Crown Preakness event will host fans in a few weeks, and local outdoor amphitheaters, such as Merriweather Post Pavilion, will begin hosting events in July. These trends are encouraging and give us confidence in our preparation.”
In March, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that he expected stadiums to function at full capacity in 2021. And the Super Bowl hosting 25,000 people will also be encouraging for teams ahead of the upcoming season. Hopefully, we will be able to see fans in stadiums in 2021.
