Leagues Easing Into Normalcy

After playing in front of empty stands since April 12, the Chinese Professional Baseball League will soon be allowing spectators back into the seats. The Fubon Guardians of the CBPL, which plays in Taiwan, said that up to 1,000 fans will be admitted to games starting on May 8, provided they sit an appropriate distance apart. The five CBPL stadiums have capacities of between 10,000 and 20,000 seats, some of which have been occupied by cardboard cutouts and robot mannequins.

German fans aren’t so lucky, as Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the restart of the Bundesliga will be pushed back to at least May 22 from a planned date of May 15. The top-flight German division was expected to be the first major league to return, and its delay portends “an ominous sign for European football.”

Meanwhile, Israel’s Premier League will return to action May 30 without fans, more than two months after it halted play.

As for in the United States:

• The NBA is set to reopen practice facilities on May 8 in states where stay-at-home guidelines are easing, with no more than four players at a time and no coaches.
• Some MLS teams announced they’ll return to small-group sessions this week, with the USL allowing small groups on May 11. The NWSL allowed players to return to outdoor fields on Wednesday.
• The Premier Lacrosse League said it will play its entire season in a two-week, quarantined tournament from July 25 to August 9.
• The NFL sent a memo to teams detailing guidelines for the potential to reopen facilities as soon as May 15th.