The NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens and Washington Football Team will not welcome fans to their stadiums for upcoming home games amid a rise in COVID-19 cases.
The City of Philadelphia yesterday (Monday) announced new outdoor restrictions meaning that no Eagles fans will be permitted at Lincoln Financial Field (pictured), while the Ravens will play at an empty M&T Bank Stadium for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans after consulting the offices of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Baltimore Mayor Bernard Young.
Washington Football Team’s home game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday will also be played behind closed doors following discussions with health officials in Prince George’s County.
Washington Football Team welcomed fans to FedExField for the first time this season at the November 8 game against the New York Giants but will now revert to behind-closed-doors games.
The Eagles have been allowing up to 7,500 people into Lincoln Financial Field after the team last month received approval to open the stadium at a limited capacity. Supporters were in the stands for games against the Ravens, New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys but the Eagles’ next home game against the Seattle Seahawks on November 30 will be played behind closed doors.
The Eagles will continue to work with the City of Philadelphia and communicate any changes that may be made for the team’s final two home games. The city’s ‘Safer at Home’ plan will come into effect on Friday.
The Ravens, meanwhile, have made their decision amid the rise in COVID-19 infections and hospitalisations in the state of Maryland. M&T Bank Stadium has been operating at 10% capacity since last month’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Image: Ron Reiring/CC BY 2.0/Edited for size
