Name: John Bel Edwards says if football returns this fall, fan experience won't look the same
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John Bel Edwards says if football returns this fall, fan experience won't look the same

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You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.Gov. John Bel Edwards didn't want to speak just yet on whether fans will be in attendance for New Orleans Saints and college football games this fall, but he did say Wednesday afternoon that if sporting events are back in session, the fan experience will be different because of the pandemic.Edwards, notably a fan of the Saints and LSU, said he has personal aspirations of games returning this fall, but he's "just not prepared at all to go down that road to talk about what the situation will be this fall" when he's speaking on April 15.If the games resume and fans are in attendance, Edwards said the fan experience is "still not gonna look exactly the same. There are gonna have to be some precautions taken and what those might look like, I don't know."Edwards opined that maybe every other seat or every third seat will be sold, rather than every seat. Or maybe new entrance and exit plans will need to be devised for the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and Tiger Stadium to keep people apart from each other.Or, as Edwards theorized, maybe temperature checks and mask requirements will be put into place."I just don't know," Edwards said as a disclaimer, "but I can certainly see myself in Tiger Stadium because that's where I want to be, yelling for the Tigers so that they can successfully defend their national championship."Also on Wednesday Dr. Anthony Fauci,&nbsp;the leading public health expert on the White House’s coronavirus task force, said in an interview that NBA, NFL and MLB games could return sooner than later if fans aren't in attendance."Nobody comes to the stadium," Fauci said. "Put them in big hotels, wherever you want to play. Keep them very well surveilled. Have them tested like every week. And make sure they don’t wind up infecting them or their family and let them play the season out.”The NFL schedule for 2020 has not yet been released, but the opening Thursday for the 2020 season is supposed to be Sept. 10, while LSU's home opener is scheduled for Sept. 5.&nbsp;Edwards' message from Wednesday was similar to the one New Orleans mayor LaToya Cantrell gave on Tuesday.On Tuesday, Cantrell recommended that all large festivals in the city be pushed back for 2021, but she came short of recommending the same for New Orleans Saints games.Reporter Emily Woodruff shares weekly updates and insights on local health news, including COVID coverage and medical research. Sign up today."I don't know what that's going to look like," Cantrell said of the future as it pertains to sports, adding how fans travel for games.Timetables for the return of MLB and the NBA are still unclear. The NBA was suspended indefinitely March 11, while Major League was in the middle of spring training when it canceled the remainder of spring training and pushed back opening day.The Saints' preseason opponents have not yet been determined, but the Saints are supposed to host Green Bay, Minnesota, Kansas City, the Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco, Atlanta, Carolina and Tampa Bay. New Orleans is supposed to travel to Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Tampa, Atlanta and Carolina.&nbsp;LSU is supposed to host UT-San Antonio, Texas, Ole Miss, Nicholls State, Mississippi State, Alabama and South Carolina. Their road games are against Rice (in Houston at NRG Stadium), Florida, Arkansas, Auburn and Texas A&amp;M.&nbsp;The NFL has already made several changes to the offseason. Next week's draft will be conducted virtually.All NFL facilities have been closed since March 25 and will remain closed until all cities and states with NFL teams lift their respective stay-at-home orders.New Orleans is under a stay-at-home order until May 16, Cantrell's office announced Wednesday.Because of the widespread quarantine orders, the NFL and NFLPA agreed to a voluntary virtual offseason program, which will begin April 20 and end May 15.&nbsp;The Saints are preparing like they're going to play games this fall, and they're in constant communication with government and health officials, said Greg Bensel, the senior vice president of communications for the Saints and Pelicans.&nbsp;"When we return this season, our highest priority will be health and safety of our fans, staff, players and coaches. It is what we need to do and are doing relative to planning to play and we will be ready," Bensel said. "And considering the economic and cultural significance of the Saints, we are working to do everything in our power to make it work. It’s too important for our city.”Email Amie Just at .© Copyright 2022 , 840 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA&nbsp;| &nbsp;|Powered by from .

You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.Gov. John Bel Edwards didn't want to speak just yet on whether fans will be in attendance for New Orleans Saints and college football games this fall, but he did say Wednesday afternoon that if sporting events are back in session, the fan experience will be different because of the pandemic.Edwards, notably a fan of the Saints and LSU, said he has personal aspirations of games returning this fall, but he's "just not prepared at all to go down that road to talk about what the situation will be this fall" when he's...

John Bel Edwards says if football returns this fall, fan experience won't look the same

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