Following the indefinite shutdown of sports due to COVID-19 back in March, the MLB graced our televisions first with a return. However, the MLB took minimal precautions outside of banning fans and saw an outbreak within the first week. Fans thought sports were once again doomed and saw no hope for the NHL and NBA playoffs. But what about a bubble? The bubble proved to be a stunning success for both leagues. With the vast differences in results between the two trials, why did Roger Goodell and the NFL choose to go without a bubble?
NFL Bubble: Learning from MLB Protocol and Results
The MLB was the first to return, limiting their schedule to just 60 games. Although they considered satellite locations, following COVID-19 outbreaks during spring training, the league chose to play and train in their home facilities. A player is required to temperature check twice and submit a symptom questionnaire before they may play. Regular COVID-19 testing is conducted, and travel is limited to small groups wearing masks. Thus far, they had outbreaks within the Marlins, Phillies, Cardinals, Mets, Reds, A’s, and Padres. The MLB has postponed or canceled 41 games thus far because of COVID-19 diagnoses. The league faced harsh criticism for how they handled pandemic safety precautions.
Do the @Braves and/or @MLB care to explain the Braves "Watch Party" outside @TruistPark, with fans not wearing masks and not social distancing? #COVID19 #WhatNotToDo
— MLB Burner (@mlb_burner) October 1, 2020
NFL Bubble: Learning from NHL Protocol and Results
The NHL leveraged the bubble system, restarting the Stanley Cup playoffs understanding that they had too few games in the season left to bring back the entire league. To compensate, they brought back the top 24 teams to compete in a seeding round. They chose two cities and did two separate bubbles for each conference; Western Conference in Edmonton and Eastern Conference in Toronto. The NHL allowed limited personnel, including maximum 52 people per team, and once you left the bubble you could not return. Family members of the teams entering the conference finals could join the bubble after a quarantine period. masks are required anytime individuals were not in their hotel rooms, excluding eating and playing. They participated in temperature checks and testing daily. Following the completion of the Stanley Cup Final last week, the NHL had completed 33,174 tests with zero positive cases.
NFL Bubble: Learning from NBA Protocol and Results
The NBA is currently completing their Finals in a bubble format, stationed in Orlando, FL. Similar to the NHL, the NBA was too close to the playoffs to invite the entire league to complete seeding. They chose to invite the remaining 22 teams in contention and alter schedules to determine final playoff eligibility. Players were not required to participate, and many notable players opted out of playing. In this event, teams could sign free agents to replace them if needed. If players left the designated bubble for any reason, they needed to participate in a 14-day quarantine period with no symptoms in order to return to training. Similar to the NHL, the NBA allowed players’ families to join the bubble as teams made it further in playoff contention. The NBA faced two positive cases at the start of the bubble format, but had zero cases in the last five weeks since settling into protocol.
No NFL Bubble?
If the MLB came back first with no bubble and saw so many flaws, and the NHL and NBA saw so much success, why did the NFL not take the summer as a learning experience to plan and prepare? Each team has their own discretion as to if they want to allow fans or not. The NFL has implemented contact tracing measures, and strict mask protocols for personnel, but no mask requirements for players. Many players opted out from the season entirely due to the lack of safety precautions implemented by the league.
I’ve said there will be 8 bubbles: NFC East, NFC North, and so on. https://t.co/E54Q2ytEsD
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) October 3, 2020
We are into Week 4, and the COVID-19 cases are piling up. The Tennessee Titans dealing with a myriad of cases throughout their locker room, and shut down their facilities. Today, it was announced that Cam Newton of the New England Patriots has been diagnosed, and their game is indefinitely postponed until the NFL can come up with an alternative. The NFL is leveraging each city’s home field, requiring immense travel from the players and personnel. They are not social distancing by means of a hotel or alternative housing, going home to their families as well. Would a bubble have solved these issues? It’s safe to assume so. They already have more cases than the NBA and NHL combined in far less time. Is it possible to move toward a bubble format for the playoffs? That was something the MLB was critiqued for, and began to pursue. If the NFL want’s to maintain a season without postponing the Super Bowl into the spring, they need to consider alternative precautions and learn from their sibling leagues.
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