Coronavirus Pandemic & US Sports – The State of Play
Big Decisions Required Before US Sports Return to Action
These are barren times for sports fans across the globe, as the coronavirus pandemic sees a near total shutdown of sports tournaments and events.
The vast majority of sports in the USA remains suspended at the time of writing, which in turn means there is very limited scope for sports betting. Numerous US sports tournaments have been affected, with season’s either having been postponed or having had their start delayed.
NBA & NHL Suspended
The NBA and NHL were both postponed indefinitely with each of them coming towards the end of the regular season and with the battle for post-season play-off places at a critical stage.
Dear NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB: If you try to play games in empty stadiums/arenas, the mobs of shutdown protesters reclaiming “their” streets will be at your gates, demanding to sit in “their” seats and watch “their” teams. Good luck with that.
— Dave Hodge (@davehodge20) April 19, 2020
Once a date for the resumption of both tournaments has been agreed upon, a decision will need to be made as to whether the remaining games in the regular season are to be played or, failing that, some agreement will need to be reached as to reducing the number of games played and a format found to decide upon which teams secure play-offs places and how they then proceed.
For example, the 2020 Major League Baseball season was scheduled to begin on March 26th, but MLB announced that the season would be postponed indefinitely as the extent of the coronavirus pandemic became apparent.
NFL to Remain Unaffected?
The one sport in the USA that has been relatively unaffected to date is the NFL. The season isn’t scheduled to start on 10th September although, as with every other sporting event, that clearly depends on developments in dealing with Covid-19.
NFL considers playing in empty stadiums with 2020 season set to start in September: report https://t.co/RXli7RwIsV pic.twitter.com/Ixu72n3N2i
— The Hill (@thehill) April 16, 2020
Golf’s first major tournament of the year, The Masters, was also postponed, while the Boston Marathon has had to be rescheduled for September.
Elsewhere, a vast number of American athletes have had to reschedule their plans with regards to the 2020 Summer Olympics. These were originally scheduled to take place between 24 July and 09 August 2020, but have now been rescheduled for 23 July to 08 August 2021 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Way Forward
There were recently hopes for a return to UFC action, but plans to hold UFC 249 on 18th April on an undisclosed private island came to nothing when the “powers that be” at pay-per-view broadcast partner ESPN and parent company Disney intervened according to UFC president Dana White.
There is potentially some cause for optimism, with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the USA’s top infectious diseases expert, having said that the only way professional sports will happen this summer is by holding events without fans in attendance and by keeping players in hotels.
That’s clearly not an ideal scenario, but it could be the best available option in the near future for the sports themselves, the teams, players, fans and those of us who enjoy betting on US sports.
Latest related offers
Greyhound Racing with Boylesports Free Bet Offer
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HOVE
How to get your free bet:
- Place a bet online on selected greyhound meetings.
- If your dog finishes 2nd to the starting price favourite, we will refund your stake as a free bet up to £/€20.
Terms and Conditions:
- Applies to customers aged 18+ only.
- Stake refunded as free bet if your selection finishes 2nd to the starting price favourite at selected greyhound meetings daily.
- Applies to bets placed online only.
- Max refund £/€20 per customer as a free bet.
- Applies to Outright Betting only.
- Applies to win singles & win part of e/w singles only.
- Does not apply to antepost bets.
- Only first bet on each race qualifies for promotion.
- If there are Joint/Co SP Favourites in the race, both shall be deemed as an SP Favourite.
- 2nd place refund applies only to races with 5 or more runners.
- In the event of a dead heat, this offer will not apply.
- Free bets and void bets do not qualify for this promotion.
- Free bets will be applied online within 24 hours and will expire after 7 days.
- Standard BoyleSports Terms & Conditions Apply
18+. UK Customers (Excluding NI) only. Cash stakes only. Min £10 stake required for initial £5 free bet. Min odds ½. Max £25 in free bets. Subsequent free bets equal 50% average of each 3 qualifying bets. 13 bets required to receive full £25 free bet. Qualifying bet must be placed within 30 days of opening account. Cashed out bets will not qualify towards your average stake. One free bet offer per customer, household or IP address only. Free bet expires after 7 days. Payment method restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.
Full Terms and Conditions
1. Get up to £25 in free bets beginning with a Bet £10 Get £5 free bet then up to four more £5 free bets
2. After the initial £5 free bet you will receive a matched free bet equal to a 50% average of your next 3 qualifying bets up to £5
3. This will happen for every three qualifying bets up to four times for a maximum of £20 in free bets not including the original free bet
4. Maximum free bet received from 3 qualifying bets is £5 (must place an average of £30 in 3 bets to qualify for the full £5)
5. You may stake under £10 as your first bet, but the free bet will only be applied once you place a bet £10 or over.
6. Maximum £25 in free bets
7. Free bet stakes do not contribute towards the customers qualifying bets
8. Qualifying bet must be the first bet placed on the account to qualify for the first free bet
9. Maximum first free bet of £5
10. Minimum odds of 1/2 or greater required to qualify
11. For multiple bets the combined odds must be 1/2 or greater
12. Qualifying bets must be placed on sportsbook markets
13. Your free bet will be awarded in the currency your account is held in
14. Cashed out bets will not qualify towards your average stake
15. All acquired free bets gained through other promotions will be removed from this offer
16. The First free bet will be applied within 1 hour of settlement of the £10 qualifying bet
17. Each free bet after this will be applied within 1 hour of settlement and qualification criteria based on your average stake
18. Bets placed on the same selection multiple times will not qualify for this offer
19. Free bet cannot be used over the same selections
20. Free bet stakes will not qualify for this offer
21. Free bets cannot be transferred
22. Free bets will expire within 7 days
23. Free bet stakes will not be included in any free bet returns
24. Free bets will not qualify for any other special offers such as Cash Back Specials, BPG & Extra Places, etc.
25. Qualifying bet must be placed within 30 days of account opening
26. Offer applies to UK (excluding NI) customers only, 18+.
27. One Free Bet offer per customer, household or IP address only
28. Customers depositing with Skrill/Moneybookers, Neteller or prepaid cards will not qualify for this offer
29. We reserve the right to amend or withdraw this offer without prior notice
30. We reserve the right to withhold free bets if there is a reason to believe the offer is being abused, to include but not limited to account(s) sharing IP addresses, the same family name/address, or other common identifiers
31. BoyleSports decision in respect of any promotion is final
32. Standard BoyleSports terms and conditions apply.
This is an advertisement.
Please gamble responsibly www.begambleaware.org
Horse Racing: Free Bet if your Selection Finishes 2nd to the SP Favourite
NEW CUSTOMERS: 18+. UK Customers (Excluding NI) only. Cash stakes only. Min £10 stake required for initial £5 free bet. Min odds ½. Max £25 in free bets. Subsequent free bets equal 50% average of each 3 qualifying bets. 13 bets required to receive full £25 free bet. Qualifying bet must be placed within 30 days of opening account. Cashed out bets will not qualify towards your average stake. One free bet offer per customer, household or IP address only. Free bet expires after 7 days. Payment method restrictions apply. T&Cs apply (Details below) • Bet Responsibly • BeGambleAware • This is an advertisement
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Hereford, Thurles & Aqueduct
How to get your free bet:
- Place a bet on any horse race at Hereford, Thurles & Aqueduct, Sunday 24th January.
- If your horse finishes 2nd to the starting price favourite, we will refund your stake as a free bet
Terms and Conditions:
- Stake refunded as free bet if your selection finishes 2nd to the starting price favourite at Hereford, Thurles & Aqueduct, Sunday 24th January.
- Max refund £/€20 per customer as a free bet.
- Applies to Outright betting only.
- Applies to win singles & win part of e/w singles only.
- Does not apply to antepost bets.
- Does not apply to Combined Odds.
- Only first bet on each race qualifies for promotion.
- If there are Joint/Co SP Favourites in the Race, both shall be deemed as an SP Favourite.
- 2nd place refund applies only to races with 5 or more runners.
- Free bets and void bets do not qualify for this promotion.
- Free bets will be applied within 24 hours and will expire after seven days.
- Applies to UK and Ireland customers through all channels.
- Standard BoyleSports Terms & Conditions Apply
Terms & Conditions
18+. UK Customers (Excluding NI) only. Cash stakes only. Min £10 stake required for initial £5 free bet. Min odds ½. Max £25 in free bets. Subsequent free bets equal 50% average of each 3 qualifying bets. 13 bets required to receive full £25 free bet. Qualifying bet must be placed within 30 days of opening account. Cashed out bets will not qualify towards your average stake. One free bet offer per customer, household or IP address only. Free bet expires after 7 days. Payment method restrictions apply. T&Cs apply. This is an advertisement
Full Terms and Conditions
1. Get up to £25 in free bets beginning with a Bet £10 Get £5 free bet then up to four more £5 free bets
2. After the initial £5 free bet you will receive a matched free bet equal to a 50% average of your next 3 qualifying bets up to £5
3. This will happen for every three qualifying bets up to four times for a maximum of £20 in free bets not including the original free bet
4. Maximum free bet received from 3 qualifying bets is £5 (must place an average of £30 in 3 bets to qualify for the full £5)
5. You may stake under £10 as your first bet, but the free bet will only be applied once you place a bet £10 or over.
6. Maximum £25 in free bets
7. Free bet stakes do not contribute towards the customers qualifying bets
8. Qualifying bet must be the first bet placed on the account to qualify for the first free bet
9. Maximum first free bet of £5
10. Minimum odds of 1/2 or greater required to qualify
11. For multiple bets the combined odds must be 1/2 or greater
12. Qualifying bets must be placed on sportsbook markets
13. Your free bet will be awarded in the currency your account is held in
14. Cashed out bets will not qualify towards your average stake
15. All acquired free bets gained through other promotions will be removed from this offer
16. The First free bet will be applied within 1 hour of settlement of the £10 qualifying bet
17. Each free bet after this will be applied within 1 hour of settlement and qualification criteria based on your average stake
18. Bets placed on the same selection multiple times will not qualify for this offer
19. Free bet cannot be used over the same selections
20. Free bet stakes will not qualify for this offer
21. Free bets cannot be transferred
22. Free bets will expire within 7 days
23. Free bet stakes will not be included in any free bet returns
24. Free bets will not qualify for any other special offers such as Cash Back Specials, BPG & Extra Places, etc.
25. Qualifying bet must be placed within 30 days of account opening
26. Offer applies to UK (excluding NI) customers only, 18+.
27. One Free Bet offer per customer, household or IP address only
28. Customers depositing with Skrill/Moneybookers, Neteller or prepaid cards will not qualify for this offer
29. We reserve the right to amend or withdraw this offer without prior notice
30. We reserve the right to withhold free bets if there is a reason to believe the offer is being abused, to include but not limited to account(s) sharing IP addresses, the same family name/address, or other common identifiers
31. BoyleSports decision in respect of any promotion is final
32. Standard BoyleSports terms and conditions apply.
This is an advertisement.
Please gamble responsibly www.begambleaware.org
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