New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that teams in his state can return to training at their practice facilities during the coronavirus pandemic.
In a press conference with reporters, Cuomo said sports leagues can “begin training camps” starting Sunday in New York. The state has been on a downward trend of COVID-19-related deaths and new cases.
Cuomo’s update follows similar guidelines given in other states. Last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said pro sports could be back in his state as soon as June, as long as games were played without fans. Other states like North Carolina and Florida have allowed sporting events to be held without fans in attendance.
Most major sports remain on pause as leagues like the NBA, MLB and NHL determine how to relaunch during the pandemic. The NBA, for instance, has discussed playing games at a Disney resort in Orlando.
Cuomo said he wants sports back.
“I believe that sports that can come back without having people in the stadium, without having people in the arena — do it! Do it!’’ Cuomo said. “Work out the economics, if you can. We want you up. We want people to be able to watch sports. To the extent people are still staying home, it gives people something to do. It’s a return to normalcy. So we are working and encouraging all sports teams to start their training camps as soon as possible. And we’ll work with them to make sure that can happen.’’
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announces effective today that all professional sports teams in the state can begin training camps while following the appropriate health protocols.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 24, 2020
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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