Here is the latest information we have to date regarding sports and COVID-19
NBA
Sources: League Approves Plan To Restart Season In Orlando
Basketball is almost here! Earlier today, a source told ESPN that the league’s Board of Governors voted to approve the league’s 22-team format to restart the 2019-20 season. Sources say the plan was approved in a 29-1 vote.
Under the plan, 13 Western Conference teams and nine Eastern Conference teams will head to Orlando, Florida to resume and eventually finish the 2019-20 NBA season. Each team will play in eight regular-season games to determine playoff seeding. There will be a potential play-in tournament for the eighth seed in either conference if necessary.
NHL
Source: League And Players’ Union Agree On Playoff Format
Hockey is coming back! According to ESPN’s sources, the NHL and the NHLPA have agreed on a playoff proposal. The plan features a 24-team qualifying tournament comprised of best-of-five series. Sources say all four rounds of the playoffs will be a best-of-seven series.
According to ESPN, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the league is on track to hold Training Camps starting in July. Determining health and safety protocols will be the next step in the league’s plan to return to play.
MLB
League Reportedly Rejects MLBPA’s 114-Game Proposal
It looks like we will have to continue waiting for the return of Professional Baseball. ESPN’s sources have confirmed that Major League Baseball rejected the MLBPA’s return-to-play proposal that included a 114-game schedule with no additional salary cuts. Sources are saying the league did not make a counterproposal to the players’ union.
Players presented their proposal to the league on Sunday in response to management’s plan of an 82-game season. Under the players’ plan, the regular season would run from June 30th to October 31st. At this time the league has said it has no interest in extending the season into November.
NFL
Coaches Allowed To Return To Facilities This Week
NFL coaching staff members will be allowed to return to team facilities starting this week. Commissioner Goodell sent out a memo to clubs that said coaches will be allowed to return to team facilities starting tomorrow. The league has said that players who are not being treated for injuries are still not allowed to work out at team facilities at this time.
The memo states that coaches may only return to club facilities if the team “received necessary permission from state and local governments to reopen its facility.” Clubs may also have up to 100 employees at the team facility if given permission by local authorities.
Continue checking oddsusa.com for more updates on the Coronavirus Pandemic.
