PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Just about every live sporting event last month was postponed or canceled. It's an unprecedented time for fans who rely on the daily action, drama and storylines to distract them from everyday realities.
All of the sports fans who spoke to KYW Newsradio over the past week say they appreciate the real-life seriousness and tragedy unfolding during the coronavirus crisis. They say they understand it's a matter of public health, and thus, are left looking for things to do other than live sports.
Some will watch classic games.
One fan accidentally caught a game he'd rather forget, more than once.
"Unfortunately I re-watched the Kawhi (Leonard) shot game twice already," Sixers season ticket holder Pat Densmore said, "and I re-watched some Allen Iverson games."
Others turn to streaming services like Netflix. One fan said he's reading more. Another is taking time for extra prayer and caring for a close relative.
Another is using his time to stay up to date with the crisis.
"I still will listen to sports talk. I'll watch ESPN. But, quite frankly, I've been watching more news reports related to the pandemic," Brian Griffin said.
And then, there's WIP's Ava Graham, who is using the time left void of games to make sure those who are closest to her are ok.
"There's a lot of added value to FaceTime that people would have never done previously," Graham said.
These are certainly unprecedented times, but it brings new perspectives, from multiple angles.
"I just think a lot of us, as fans, we were so used to going to work, coming home — or going to work and then from work watching a sports game — or something like that," Shirley A. Dash said. "Maybe we was taking other stuff for granted and putting sports first."
"I definitely do feel like I did take it for granted," Mike Lynn said, "but I tend to look at the other way, where I think I probably take just having the simpler things for granted."
It's unknown when sporting events will return, and how fans will respond is just as much a mystery. Will they pack stadiums and arenas? On March 10, two days before the NHL paused its season, a packed house took in Flyers-Bruins.
Or will fans come back to the gate more slowly for fear of getting infected?
"I don't think I'll attend a Sixers game until, like, around Halloween, at the earliest — or I guess, little bit before then," season ticket holder and WIP Producer Mike Angelina said.
"I don't know if I feel comfortable with 68,000 other fans at Lincoln Financial Field without there being some type of vaccine for this COVID-19," Griffin said. "Without also having confirmation that people have been tested."
"Me personally, I probably wouldn't go to no big event that has over 100 people in it," Dash said.
To some, it depends on knowing the danger is gone.
"There'd have to be enough data to show that it would be safe for people to gather in large groups again and be together," Tim Hindin said. "And I think getting back to that type of point would be important."
Others feel comfortable if the experts say it's ok to return.
"If it's deemed that it's safe enough to go, if the medical professionals say that it's ok, I'll be the first one in," Justice said.
"I'm going to cross that bridge when I get there," Densmore said. "I most likely will not be gun-shy."
"Once the doctors and people say it's ok to come back, if I haven't received a vaccine, I don't want to say I'm willing to take the risk, but yeah, I am," Graham said.
Last week, Seton Hall University released a sports poll that calculated 72% of Americans wouldn't go to a sporting event unless there's a vaccine.
The widespread consensus from the fans KYW Newsradio spoke to is they'd be fine with having no fans attend at first. This sentiment echoes the Seton Hall poll results, which found 76% of people would be just as interested in watching a game broadcast.
Philly's major sports teams are working on the ticketing situation. A couple weeks ago, the Eagles postponed season ticket payments to help out fans. The Phillies are waiting for a finalized schedule from Major League Baseball before proceeding with a plan. The 76ers are working on a resolution to do right by their fans.
The Flyers posted information about tickets on their web site on March 13. Postponed games will be honored when rescheduled. If games are canceled or played with no fans, those tickets will be eligible for credits and/or refunds.
Whenever games do resume, and fans are allowed in the venues, some will feel safe and some will approach with more hesitancy. But fans will be happy that the country is in a healthier state and their daily entertainment returns.
Even though there are no games, you can never take the fan out of someone. And Dash made sure to demonstrate that as we ended our conversation.
"E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES! All the way, baby," she said.
