Gov. Cuomo discussed the possibility of professional sports returning without fans in attendance later this year. He said he has spoken to sports team owners about figuring out ways for the teams to make enough money through television revenue if they cannot have ticket sales due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cuomo challenged sports leagues and players to be creative in solving this issue, such as renegotiating player salaries and contracts, so that sports can return and fans can watch games on TV.
Sports during coronavirus: Cuomo thinks aloud about how baseball returns
1. Support local news you can trust. Subscribe to syracuse.com
Coronavirus
Sports during coronavirus: Cuomo thinks aloud
about how baseball returns
Updated 2:56 PM; Today 1:19 PM
80
shares
By Teri Weaver | tweaver@syracuse.com
Summer is coming. Because of coronavirus, baseball isn’t.
But Gov. Andrew Cuomo, among millions of fans, wants to watch the professionals play
ball.
“We want to bring sports back,” he said today during his briefing in Albany on Sunday.
When asked if the Yankees might play to empty stadiums later this year, Cuomo said “I
don’t know.”
Yet he didn’t rule it out. Instead he challenged sports owners and players to come up with
solutions. “Everyone has to think outside the box," Cuomo said, "because there is no box.”
The governor said he’s been talking to professional sports teams owners, though he
declined to say who. “I’ve talked to many of the sports owners and sports companies,” he
said.
The economic challenge, Cuomo said, is figuring out whether the teams can make enough
money on television revenue without the ticket sales. It also might require players to
renegotiate salaries and contracts.
"Be creative. Try to figure it out,” he said. “Why not? I’d love to watch it.”
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS
Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources
SubscribeSet
Weather
3. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or
otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.
Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.
Ad Choices