Getty Image
It doesn’t seem like California Governor Gavin Newsom is as optimistic as President Trump about the return of the NFL season.
Yesterday afternoon, the President spoke with all of the major league sports commissioners and said that he expected the NFL season to start on time with fans in attendance.
In conference call with major league sports commissioners on Saturday, President Donald Trump said he believes the NFL season should start on time in September, sources familiar with the call told @wojespn and me. More on call coming at https://t.co/rDZaVFhcDQ.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 4, 2020
Donald Trump also told commissioners that he hopes to have fans back in stadiums and arenas by August and September, sources said, though it is currently unclear if medical experts find that to be a realistic timeline amid the current coronavirus pandemic. https://t.co/EFqDryGlTQ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 4, 2020
During his press briefing, Governor Newsom was asked about President Trump’s comments and he disagreed on the timetable of the NFL’s return. Newsom went on to say that the decision to open up the state will be up to health officials and that he doesn’t anticipate anything changing for a few months.
BREAKING NEWS: Gov. Gavin Newsom just said he doesn’t anticipate sports leagues starting up in September with full stadiums. (Contrary to reports of Trump expectations but maybe NFL is thinking empty stadiums?)
— Liz Habib (@LizHabib) April 4, 2020
California governor Gavin Newsom pushes back on Trump's reported comments from today's call that he believes the NFL season should start on time in September with fans in the stands: "I'm not anticipating that happening in this state." pic.twitter.com/QQ6QxapZ9Z
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) April 4, 2020
I’m not anticipating that happening in this state,”. “We’ve all seen the headlines over the last couple days in Asia where they opening up certain businesses and now they’re starting to roll back those openings because they’re starting seeing some spread and there’s a boomerang. One has to be very cautious here, one has to be careful not to overpromise.”
“I would move very cautiously in that expectation,”. “Our decision on that basis here in the State of California will be determined by the facts, will be determined by the health experts, will be determined by our ability to meet this moment and bend the curve … Right now I’m just focusing on the immediate, but that’s not something I anticipate happening in the next few months.”
Reopening the country is eventually going to be up to the states to decide and not the federal government but it’s still way too early to tell what’s going to happen in the upcoming months.