Sports fans in America have been patient beyond their normal means.
These are the folks who can’t seem to make eye contact with their server if the big game is on at the bar, and whose singular focus on their team puts a strain on their personal relationships. These people have been without sports for months now. ESPN is sharing videos of online gamers. Frisbee golf just got picked up for coverage on CBS Sports.
Fans of athletic competition are in a tough spot, that’s for sure.
Now, as we inch ever closer to the start of several major sports leagues, some accommodations have been made. Baseball teams will play a shorter season with several key players opting out on account of safety. The NFL and NBA will also reduce the number of games to play.
Major League Soccer chose to make up for lost time with a tournament in Orlando at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. With action starting on Wednesday, fans of American Soccer were getting downright excited.
Fans of the team from Dallas, not so much.
FC Dallas will not participate in the MLS is Back Tournament following the high number of positive tests for the coronavirus within the club, Major League Soccer announced on Monday.
Since arriving to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on June 27 outside of Orlando, Florida, the club has had 10 players and one member of its technical staff test positive. The team has been under quarantine since then, preventing it from training.
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The club had three positive tests before arriving to Florida. It was not clear if those players who first tested positive traveled with the team.
We can only imagine that there will be other teams who won’t be able to complete even these reduced-size seasons due to similar outbreaks, which could leave sports fans back at square one for 2020.
