The COVID-19 pandemic has led to almost all the major sporting competitions to come to a complete halt all over the world, and the USA is no different. The major sports league in the USA - NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS and so on, have all either had their seasons disrupted, or their plans ahead of the new seasons put into disarray. However, there is still hope that some of these competitions can be salvaged and this year’s competitions can be played out in some form, whether that be through a reduced, shorter format or by postponing the season till it can be resumed safely. Needless to say, all of these leagues will be taking place in empty stadiums and arenas, with the general consensus that fans will not be allowed in to watch live sports again till 2021, at the earliest.
Kukla's Korner Hockey
The best cities to host NHL games at this time
With regard to the NHL specifically, the league had put plans forward in May where it had announced that it could potentially use 10 cities as hubs to resume the season and host the playoffs as well. However, a lot has changed since then, and some of these cities may not be viable as hosts any more, while others may now be better options. In any case, before discussing these potential hosts, it is important to note that the entire world has gone online, even more so than earlier, in the wake of this pandemic. The NHL has followed the example of the likes of the NBA and tried to increase its engagement with fans in the absence of live action, with social media events and other ways to try and keep giving fans content to consume and keep them connected with the league and sport. At the same time, it is essential that live action returns soon, since there are a number of better entertainment options available for fans online to turn to, including streaming, gaming and even online casino websites, with there being a surge in the number of people who now play roulette online, for example, as they try to pass the time while having to comply with lockdown rules and restrictions.
All the 10 cities spoken about have the infrastructure to host NHL games in terms of arenas and hotels. Thus, with plans to resume the season soon in these hub cities, we take a look at some of them and their suitability for this, based on the number of COVID cases, quarantine rules in place at the moment, public testing availability and so on.
Vancouver
This Canadian city has seen a flattening of the curve in its province, British Columbia, and it also has the lowest mortality rate of any area with a population of more than five million across Europe and North America. Thus, it has definitely done a good job with regard to controlling the spread of the virus, while at present, there is a public health order in place limiting public gatherings to no more than 50 people. However, outdoor amenities like parks, basketball and volleyball courts, golf courses and playgrounds have been opened up to the public, while the local government is also extremely enthusiastic about hosting NHL games as well, making it one of the best options as a hub city.
Toronto
On the other end of the scale in Canada, Toronto has been one of the worst-affected cities, with more than 12,000 cases in total and more than 2,000 active cases at the moment. Thus, it is no surprise that while the province has moved on to stage 2 of the reopening plan, the city itself has been exempted from this and strict restrictions still apply. Despite this, the administration has reopened some sports facilities, but permits are still needed for the likes of baseball and soccer fields. However, the local administration is in favour of hosting the NHL, despite a mandatory 14-day quarantine still in place for those coming from outside the city, with the public health rules applying to the NHL as well if they do decide to host matches in Toronto.
Chicago
Chicago has had over 40,000 cases and 2,000 deaths since this crisis began, and there is still a citywide order in place which bans gatherings of more than 10 people. Park amenities are being gradually reopened, but contact sports, such as football, basketball and soccer remain banned. The Chicago mayor and Illinois governor have said that they are open to hosting NHL playoffs in Chicago, but any such event would have to be extremely secure, with no spectators, and a very strict health and testing protocol in place to ensure that it does not lead to a fresh spike in cases.
About Kukla's Korner Hockey
Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.
From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.
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