Gov. Ducey: Pro sports can resume in Arizona on May 16
Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced Tuesday that major professional sports can resume playing in the state as of Saturday.
If any sports leagues were to resume in the state, they would have to do so without fans.
Today, I'm announcing that pools, gyms and spas can reopen this Wednesday, May 13. Major league sports can resume limited reopening, without fans, this Saturday, May 16. 7/ pic.twitter.com/ltjzlVrTyN
- Doug Ducey (@dougducey) May 12, 2020
The announcement came as part of Ducey's COVID-19 update in his state. Arizona's stay-at-home order will expire on Friday, the governor said.
Ducey added that Arizona has had discussions with various league commissioners about playing in his state.
All sports leagues are welcome in Arizona, Gov. Ducey says.
- Andy Slater (@AndySlater) May 12, 2020
This includes MLS - even though they don't have a team in the state.
League commissioners have discussed playing there, the governor says. pic.twitter.com/JawGQkPPm2
North America's three major sports leagues currently in-season - Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, and the National Basketball Association - as well as the MLS and WNBA, are all currently on hiatus due to the pandemic. Each league has been pursuing alternate plans to either continue or begin their current seasons.
At one time, MLB was reportedly considering isolating all 30 teams in the Phoenix area to play the season across multiple spring-training facilities and the Diamondbacks' Chase Field. Fifteen baseball teams have their spring headquarters in Arizona.
The NHL's Arizona Coyotes said they "are aware of Governor Ducey's announcement and will await direction from the NHL," according to a statement obtained by Mark McClune of CBS 5 Arizona.
The Arizona Cardinals responded by noting they still require a go-ahead from the NFL before resuming team activities at their facilities, according to McClune.
Copyright (C) 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.