PHILADELPHIA – City officials say there will be no fans in the stands for the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Phillies games in 2020, citing security concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Eagles will still be allowed to play, albeit without crowds. The Phillies will continue to play, albeit without crowds,” said managing director Brian Abernathy, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“We have been in communication with the Eagles. We have told them that our expectations are that they have no fans.”
Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said he believes baseball and soccer games can be played under the safety protocols suggested by both leagues, but having fans in the stands would be too great a risk.
“I don’t think they can have viewers in those games. There is no way they are sure of having a crowd there,” he said. “I can’t say what the plans are for the league, but from a security perspective, they can play games but not [have] crowds “.
The Eagles have yet to make public comments.
“We are collecting information about Philadelphia,” said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy, adding that what happens in Philadelphia will not affect NFL decision making for the other 31 teams.
“Decisions about the number of fans in the stadiums will be determined market by market,” McCarthy said.
The NFL has said from the beginning that safety decisions will be made in conjunction with the guidance of public health experts and in accordance with state and local guidelines.
Comments from city officials came the same day that Mayor Jim Kenney announced that all large-scale events in Philadelphia would be canceled until February 2021.
Earlier this month, the Eagles told season ticket holders they had the option to defer their tickets for the 2020 season, noting that some might have concerns about attending the games in person.
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