Philadelphia is the first U.S. city to ban NFL & MLB fans from attending games in person this summer or fall.
City officials have put the kibosh to Philly fans indicating that no fans will be in the stands for Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Phillies games in 2020, citing safety concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Eagles are still going to be allowed to play, although without crowds. The Phillies will continue to be allowed to play, although without crowds,” city managing director Brian Abernathy said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“We have been in communication with the Eagles. We have told them our expectations are that they don’t have fans.”
The Eagles have yet to publicly comment.
Philadelphia health commissioner Thomas Farley believes that baseball and football games can be played under the safety protocols suggested by both leagues, but having fans in the stands would be too big of a risk.
“I do not think that they can have spectators at those games. There’s no way for them to be safe having a crowd there,” he said. “I can’t say what the plans are for the league, but from a safety perspective, they can play games but not [have] crowds.”