CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Cleveland Browns will be permitted to host fans for Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Thursday that the Browns will receive a variance from the Ohio Department of Heath and be permitted to continue to host fans at FirstEnergy Stadium despite the extension of the state's 10 p.m. curfew through Jan. 2, 2021.
“I know the importance of sports and it’s important to be able to continue to do things, sports or other things to keep our morale up, but I ask that you enjoy these events responsibly,” DeWine said. “So please don’t gather inside with people from outside your household and increase the spread of the virus or the risk of spreading the virus.”
The variance also applies to the Columbus Crew MLS Championship game Saturday night, Bengals and Steelers later this month as well as the University of Cincinnati hosting their conference championship game.
“The start times of these games are dictated by national television contracts and as a result the games will not be finished until after that 10 p.m. curfew,” DeWine said. “These events have run consistently with the protocols that we’re asking all Ohioans to follow – spectators at these events wear a mask, they are socially distanced, there is added safety in that they are in a large venue and that they are held outside.”
DeWine expressed his concerns about private gatherings for these events being held across the state and the danger they could possess.
“The biggest threat from these games is not what goes on inside the stadium,” DeWine said. “The biggest threat is from those who have an urge to gather with friends, with people outside their own household, and candidly that is what we think the biggest threat is.
“The biggest risk from these games is not the spectators who will be attending the games and who will be following the safety protocols but from other fans not attending the game in person who may have that urge to gather with friends to watch these games inside without following the mask and social distancing protocols and frankly that is where our biggest worry is.
“So to those who might be thinking about gathering with friends outside their household to watch these games, we would just ask you to please rethink that.”
