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While the league plans to kick off a full season as normal, they aren’t ruling out that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic may force certain contingencies. The NFL will release the league schedule on the NFL Network at 8 p.m. Thursday.
According to longtime NFL insider John Clayton, who was a guest of 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, the first four weeks of the schedule will likely feature NFC teams playing against AFC teams — though there are contradictory reports on Twitter.
Earlier this week, the Associated Press reported the NFL created a ticket refund plan if games are cancelled or played in empty stadiums. The AP reported that Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to every team saying they will have a policy for fans who bought tickets directly from the team, including the option of refunds or credits.
Secondary-market sellers Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pledged to give ticket holders the option of full refunds within no more than 30 days of cancellation, while StubHub will do so only if required by state law.
Miami Dolphins CEO and President Tom Garfinkel shared some thoughts about fans in the stands with "Good Morning America" on Monday. He proposed allowing a limited number of spectators at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami rather than none at all, with strict rules about entering and exiting the stadium, wearing masks, and ordering concessions from their seats for pick-up.
Mike Ozanian, assistant managing editor of Forbes Media and co-host of "Forbes Sports Money" on the YES Network in New York, explained to WBBM Newsradio in Chicago why this could work.
“I would tend to think that, both from a revenue perspective and from the feeling at least having some fans there, they would choose to have the stadiums at least partially filled,” Ozanian said.
And while uncertainty about the NFL season persists, despite efforts to stay on schedule, the Associated Press reported the league has created protocols for teams slowly re-opening their facilities, which they want each club to have in place by May 15.
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