TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (AP) – The governor of Florida was willing to make that state, like Arizona, host the resumption of professional sports after the paralysis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Something I’m going to do, probably this week, is make it clear that all professional sports are welcome here, for training and games,” Governor Ron DeSantis said Wednesday during a press conference. “Now, we are not necessarily going to have fans.”
RELATED
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said the day before that his state is open to hosting any professional sports game, with no spectators, starting Saturday.
“There have been reports that Major League Soccer would want to make its season in Orlando. Let her do it. We want you here, ”emphasized DeSantis, who, like Ducey, is a Republican. “We want basketball to be practiced again, we would love to have Major League Baseball. And I think the message is that our people are hungry to have some of this back in their lives. It is an important part of people’s lives, so we want to do that. I think we can certainly do it in a way that is safe. ”
The inauguration of the baseball campaign should have taken place on March 26, but it will continue to be seen. Half of the 30 teams conduct preseason training in Florida.
Thus, Major League Baseball has contemplated plans that clubs would use their preseason training parks if they are unable to play in their normal stadiums during the regular season.
“We’ve had events, the UFC and other things,” said DeSantis. “There is a charity golf tournament at Juno Beach on Sunday. It will be broadcast on NBC from the Seminole Golf Club. Next week, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are going to be at the Medalist in Hobe Sound. So we want all of that. “
NBA basketball, NHL ice hockey and MLS soccer were disrupted due to the pandemic. All those leagues try to come up with plans to end their campaigns.
“All of these professional sports are going to be welcome in Florida. That would not be the case in any other state in this country, as we have seen, “said DeSantis. “And therefore, what I would like to say to the league commissioners is: ‘If you have a team in an area where they are not allowed to operate, we will find a place for you here in the state of Florida, because we think it is important and we know it can be done in a safe way. ‘”
