Ontario allows professional sports to resume with ‘stringent public health measures’
Some professional and elite sports will be allowed to resume with stringent public health and safety protocols," the Ontario government announced Monday, but whether fans will be allowed in the stands is still under discussion.
The leagues that have been given permission to resume include the Canadian Football League, the Canadian Hockey League, the Provincial Women's Hockey League, the National Lacrosse League, and the Ontario Junior A Lacrosse League, as well as the under-18 Elite Baseball League of Ontario and the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association.
We finally have come to a place where we can say now to the Redblacks, the Argos, the Ticats - we're in a position to get you back on to the field," Tourism and Sport Minister Lisa MacLeod said at Queen's Park, adding teams will soon be able to run, practise and eventually get into games" sooner than expected following safety measures such as cohorting.
When asked about fans in the stands, MacLeod said those plans are still in the works, but that when they are allowed, it's safe to say that in the absence of eradicating COVID-19" some capacity limits will be put in place.
Our government remains committed to protecting the health and well-being of all athletes by supporting return-to-play protocols that are safe, evidence-based and gradual," MacLeod said.
This is an important first step to getting all Ontario athletes back to sport safely, while supporting Ontario-based leagues and events that are strong local economic drivers and job creators."
While leagues like Major League Baseball and National Basketball Association are included in the announcement, their resumptions in Ontario depends on the federal government and border-crossing restrictions, MacLeod said.
For recreational and amateur sports, outdoor dry land training and drills are allowed, and restrictions will be eased as part of the province's broader reopening schedule.
The plans announced Monday build on protocols worked out for leagues like the NHL, which MacLeod noted had a 600-page return-to-play manual for COVID-19.
Safety measures include cohorting, seven-day travel isolation, frequent testing and limiting venues.
The CFL has said it will resume play this year, and had planned on a 14-game season starting Aug. 5.
An earlier statement from CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie said that in order for that to happen, the league will need the support of public health units as well as permission from governments to host a significant number of fans in the stands, in a significant number of venues at the start of the season, and in the rest of our venues soon after that, so a 2021 season is financially tenable for our clubs."
Ambrosie said the CFL depends on ticket revenue more than other professional sports leagues in North America. Fans in the stands account for at least half of our revenue. Our clubs already stand to suffer substantial financial losses this year. Playing without fans in the stands would dramatically increase those losses.
We are prepared to be creative as well as prudent. For example, if we are unable to host fans in the east because of COVID-19, we are prepared to start play in the west, provided eastern teams can return to their home provinces, and play in front of their fans, later in the season."
Kristin Rushowy is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @krushowy