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A16 sports
Friday 6 November 2020
In virus era, bubbles provide game-changing lessons learned

than any other pro league
because seven of 31 teams
are based in Canada,
which could require some
adjustments from the bub-
ble like an all-Canadian di-
vision or potentially "pods"
around North American
hosting games, at least to
start next season. Baseball's
Toronto Blue Jays played
their home games in Buffa-
lo this year; cities are lining
up to woo the NBA's Toron-
to Raptors for next season,
though they remain fo-
cused on playing at home.
"We're at the mercy — and
we respect it — of govern-
ments: state governments,
federal governments, pro-
vincial governments," NHL
senior executive vice presi-
dent Steve Mayer said.
The NHL learned it doesn't
In this Nov. 1, 2020, file photo, spectators wear face masks to protect against COVID-19 during the first half of an NFL football game necessarily need to physi-
between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Baltimore. cally fence in players and
Associated Press
staff for any quarantine
By TIM REYNOLDS and health and safety efforts how they enter and exit. The Associated Press last situations next season. The
STEPHEN WHYNO at the Walt Disney World "Rapid testing would re- month. "It is a huge issue for NBA doesn't want another
AP Sports Writers bubble in Lake Buena Vis- ally change the number of us in terms of the econom- bubble experience. That
The NBA wants to be back ta, Florida. "But the thing people that you can bring ics of the game." doesn't mean many of the
in December. The NHL is that made it successful in in safely," said Ryan Dem- Baseball nearly made it bubble protocols and prin-
aiming at games resuming the first place was the ad- mer, a University of Minne- through its version of play- ciples will be forgotten.
in January. Baseball's spring herence to all those proto- sota associate professor of off bubbles unscathed; two "Wherever we are play-
training may begin in Feb- cols that most people can epidemiology and com- innings before the World ing games, you're going to
ruary, like normal. follow most of the time in munity health. "It's hard to Series ended, Justin Turn- want to try to limit interac-
They almost certainly won't their lives." There was no say what the exact number er of the now-champion tions with kind of our core
be in bubbles if and when magic bullet in the NBA or would be. I would not feel Los Angeles Dodgers was people and kind of the out-
any or all of that happens. NHL bubbles: Masks were comfortable with a full sta- pulled from the game af- side uncontrolled people,"
But many of the lessons worn, hand sanitizing was dium. But maybe instead ter MLB was notified that Daly said. "It's all about, I
learned from being in some stressed constantly and of 10 or 15%, you could get he had tested positive for think, minimizing risk, and so
form of a bubble environ- social distancing was re- to 50 or 60%, which is still COVID-19. He was quar- there are a lot of elements
ment — where the NBA, quired at all times. pretty meaningful in terms antined in a doctor's office of the bubble that will trans-
NHL and Major League The NBA had teams in the of revenues." off to the side, then later late to what's next."
Baseball each crowned a bubble for three months, That is a huge part of the returned to the field with The one area where ev-
champion after finding a with the Los Angeles Lak- what-happens-next equa- a mask to celebrate the eryone agrees: If fans are
way to finish their seasons ers winning that title. The tion. The NHL estimates half Dodgers' title. He then took coming back, they'll be in
in most unusual circum- NHL playoff bubble lasted of its revenue comes from down his mask and posed masks.
stances — could apply to 65 days, from the time ticket holders. MLB says it for a team photo on the Harvard's Dr. John Spen-
whatever the new defini- teams arrived in Toronto missed revenue projections field, a violation of corona- gler, who participated in a
tion of normal is for those and Edmonton, Alberta, by about $3 billion. The NBA virus protocols. ventilation study of ice rinks
and other sports. until Tampa Bay won the missed its financial mark by The WNBA played its 2020 at Purdue, said there are
A new set of rules are com- Stanley Cup. Officials from $1.5 billion. bubble in Bradenton, Flori- significant carbon dioxide
ing in just about every sport, both leagues noted that Baseball had some fans for da. A few players had false discharges from players
almost all with enhanced mask, distancing and other games as the playoffs pro- positives, but things mostly and that there's no sub-
health and safety in mind. protocols were still being gressed. College football ran smoothly — more proof stitution for mask-wearing
If they work, games could followed strictly on the final and the NFL play before that adherence to rules among those in the stands
return to arenas and stadi- day. very small crowds now in pays off. to prevent the spread of
ums with some fans in at- "It was unique," NHL deputy most cities, limited because "No one got COVID inside something as contagious
tendance sometime soon. commissioner Bill Daly said, of the virus. Finding ways to our bubble," said Dan Car- as this coronavirus.
Perhaps more importantly, "but hopefully a once-in-a- get more fans into games lin, CEO and founder of "Some of the basics that
they could also provide lifetime experience." — safely — going forward is JobSiteCare, which provid- we saw around really con-
some common-sense so- So what happens now? paramount. ed the WNBA with its medi- sistent use of masks, really
lutions to virus issues in the Even as coronavirus num- "We understand what hap- cal staff. "People showed focusing on distance, re-
real world. bers are spiking again pens with fans is going to be up with COVID. This was ally being careful about
"The testing isn't what made across much of the U.S., ex- a product of what happens a tremendous amount of settings that involve eat-
it successful, the testing sort perts don't think it's a pipe with the virus, what deci- work to get these people ing and drinking and really
of showed that it was suc- dream to have fans, even sions public health authori- out of circulation before rigorous and hygiene and
cessful," said NBA senior indoors, with a combination ties make in terms of mass they infected anyone." cleaning, you saw all of
vice president David Weiss, of some screening, masks, gatherings," baseball Com- Border and travel restric- that," Weiss said. "That adds
who helped oversee all the distancing and planning missioner Rob Manfred told tions affect the NHL more up to a lot of protection."q