New York Giants and New York Jets will play their home games in the 2020 NFL season without fans. The teams confirmed this in a joint statement on Monday.
The decision was made after New Jersey decided to impose a limit of 500 persons on all outdoor gatherings in the state due to ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Giants and Jets’ MetLife Stadium is located in East Rutherford, which falls under the jurisdiction of the state of New Jersey.
As a precautionary measure, Giants and Jets will also close their training camp and practices for the public.
“We support Governor Murphy’s decision in the interest of public health and safety and, until circumstances change, both the Giants and Jets will play our games without the benefit of fans in attendance,” said the teams in a statement. “Although we would prefer to have fans at MetLife Stadium for our games, we will continue to work with Governor Murphy’s office and will provide updates if necessary.”
It’s expected that more teams follow Giants and Jets’ lead and opt for empty stands in 2020. Other major sports leagues have done the same, with Major League Baseball making a league-wide decision not to allow fans at ballparks. NBA and MLS, on the other hand, opted for a similar solution and headed to the bubble set.
