2021 Schedule Thread

[413Blue]

when people tell me they won’t take it, it’s not partisan. Some of the strongest Biden supporters I know are afraid to take it without at least a few years to see side effects. I think you’re overestimating People’s willingness to take an untested drug, as well as wrongfully connecting it to today’s politically charged atmosphere.

I had intended to separate the two barriers people have, politics and science. Both need to be removed. Once a vaccine has bi-partisan support, the political barrier should evaporate.
The safety concerns are a bit harder to overcome, but any vaccine released will likely have enough scientific evidence to prove that it's safe, or at least safer than risking getting the virus.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I had intended to separate the two barriers people have, politics and science. Both need to be removed. Once a vaccine has bi-partisan support, the political barrier should evaporate.
The safety concerns are a bit harder to overcome, but any vaccine released will likely have enough scientific evidence to prove that it's safe, or at least safer than risking getting the virus.

I think that last part is key. The danger of not taking the vaccine will almost certainly be higher than the danger of taking it. Once the vaccine is out and widely distributed, life is going to return to normal and not taking the vaccine will be much more dangerous than taking it.

Additionally, there are rumors that Ticketmaster will require ticket buyers to either prove they were recently tested for the virus, or have the vaccine. It also wouldn't surprise me if employers required employees to be vaccinated in order to return to the office. Not taking the vaccine might harshly impact what you are and aren't allowed to do in the future. I think many people will take the vaccine even if they don't want to, because those who don't take the virus could be largely ostracized.

 

[Gotham Gator]

I think many people will take the vaccine even if they don't want to, because those who don't take the virus could be largely ostracized.

Let’s hope so.

 

[adam]

I had intended to separate the two barriers people have, politics and science. Both need to be removed. Once a vaccine has bi-partisan support, the political barrier should evaporate.
The safety concerns are a bit harder to overcome, but any vaccine released will likely have enough scientific evidence to prove that it's safe, or at least safer than risking getting the virus.

so politics aside, because I’m hearing this from all my friends, regardless of political persuasion. Most of them are afraid of long term side-affects that we won’t see for a few years of people taking the drug. And they are even more afraid to make their children take it. And no science can prove long effects till it’s actually existed and been used over a long term.

 

[Kjbert]

If J&J can get approval by February, I think we are good to go for March/April home games.
Pfizer and Moderna can get us rolling, but the added capacity of the J&J vaccine could give us the critical mass needed.
I'm sure the ideal vaccination ratio for this will be at least 200m Americans, but by April I think we'll be over 100m, with the most critical and vulnerable people covered, and rising quickly at that point.

The combination of a growing vaccinated population, and the outdoor venue, sets us up well. Indoor events will probably be at least a few months behind.

is the J&J vaccine the same therapy? RNA?

 

[Kjbert]

The risks associated with contracting the virus for a 30 year old might be better than the unknown risks of a vaccine. That may not be a popular or PC take, but I think that’s the reality for some people.

 

[413Blue]

is the J&J vaccine the same therapy? RNA?

No. It's a more traditional vaccine using a more proven platform. The upshot of J&J is that it is a single dose vaccine as opposed to the double dose of the mRNA vaccines. Also smoother logistics and storage requirements.

 

[JayH]

March 2022 with some fans at YS sounds about right to me. I don't think vaccines start game-changing the comfort level of the state until closer to then unfortunately. (Of course, aside from getting into the stadium, the news is super exciting). Some of those involved have spoken about the timeline (though maybe they are being rightfully conservative).

Covid-19: Normal life back next winter, says vaccine creator

Prof Ugur Sahin also raises hopes the vaccine, developed with Pfizer. could halve Covid transmission.

www.bbc.com

 

[ZYanksRule]

March 2022 with some fans at YS sounds about right to me. I don't think vaccines start game-changing the comfort level of the state until closer to then unfortunately. (Of course, aside from getting into the stadium, the news is super exciting). Some of those involved have spoken about the timeline (though maybe they are being rightfully conservative).

Covid-19: Normal life back next winter, says vaccine creator

Prof Ugur Sahin also raises hopes the vaccine, developed with Pfizer. could halve Covid transmission.

www.bbc.com

It's not going to from 0 to 100, though. We're going to gradually turn everything back on. If we have, say, 100 million people vaccinated by April - and those are the most at-risk people (elderly, people with health issues, etc), I think you're going to start to see stadiums reopen. I bet by May or June we're going to have somewhere in the range of 33-50 percent attendance available in the stadium.

Also, I bet at Yankee Stadium for NYCFC, if they need to socially distance people they will open up the entire seating bowl so they can have more people. They have an extra 20,000 seats that they don't use in the upper deck, so I would not be surprised if they used the upper deck in 2021.

 

[JayH]

It's not going to from 0 to 100, though. We're going to gradually turn everything back on. If we have, say, 100 million people vaccinated by April - and those are the most at-risk people (elderly, people with health issues, etc), I think you're going to start to see stadiums reopen. I bet by May or June we're going to have somewhere in the range of 33-50 percent attendance available in the stadium.

Also, I bet at Yankee Stadium for NYCFC, if they need to socially distance people they will open up the entire seating bowl so they can have more people. They have an extra 20,000 seats that they don't use in the upper deck, so I would not be surprised if they used the upper deck in 2021.

I always appreciate your optimism and reasonable perspective.

 

[Gotham Gator]

It's not going to from 0 to 100, though. We're going to gradually turn everything back on. If we have, say, 100 million people vaccinated by April - and those are the most at-risk people (elderly, people with health issues, etc), I think you're going to start to see stadiums reopen. I bet by May or June we're going to have somewhere in the range of 33-50 percent attendance available in the stadium.

Also, I bet at Yankee Stadium for NYCFC, if they need to socially distance people they will open up the entire seating bowl so they can have more people. They have an extra 20,000 seats that they don't use in the upper deck, so I would not be surprised if they used the upper deck in 2021.

If they do that (big IF), and go with a 20% capacity limit (which has become common), then you end up with a capacity of about 9,500. That’s a little less than half of what we got in 2019, but still a good amount.

 

[ZYanksRule]

If they do that (big IF), and go with a 20% capacity limit (which has become common), then you end up with a capacity of about 9,500. That’s a little less than half of what we got in 2019, but still a good amount.

Theoretically the capacity limit could also be bigger if there is a vaccine already achieving (somewhat) wide distribution. We won't be back to normal until the end of 2021, most likely, but we can start to see some bounceback throughout 2021, hopefully.

 

[Kjbert]

It's not going to from 0 to 100, though. We're going to gradually turn everything back on. If we have, say, 100 million people vaccinated by April - and those are the most at-risk people (elderly, people with health issues, etc), I think you're going to start to see stadiums reopen. I bet by May or June we're going to have somewhere in the range of 33-50 percent attendance available in the stadium.

Also, I bet at Yankee Stadium for NYCFC, if they need to socially distance people they will open up the entire seating bowl so they can have more people. They have an extra 20,000 seats that they don't use in the upper deck, so I would not be surprised if they used the upper deck in 2021.

this. They’re going to take our money and open the stadium. I’ll be attending.
I would also attend now with a mask and socially distanced. I think it’s silly they don’t have fans in outdoor stadiums across the country right now.

 

[Shwafta]

this. They’re going to take our money and open the stadium. I’ll be attending.
I would also attend now with a mask and socially distanced. I think it’s silly they don’t have fans in outdoor stadiums across the country right now.

They do in a lot of places have it already, but NY is yet to follow suit.
...That being said, look at the case count recently, I wouldn't be surprised if NY keeps disallowing it for a while.

 

[Kjbert]

They do in a lot of places have it already, but NY is yet to follow suit.
...That being said, look at the case count recently, I wouldn't be surprised if NY keeps disallowing it for a while.

has there been a documented case of someone contracting COVID from attending an nfl game this season?

 

[Shwafta]

has there been a documented case of someone contracting COVID from attending an nfl game this season?

No idea

 

[Kjbert]

No idea

I don’t think there has been. People need. A place to go to. A socially distanced soccer match should be an option.

 

[mgarbowski]

Last year the first 3 games were announced on December 5, and the full schedule on December 19.

I realize there are a thousand reasons for things to be announced later this year, but I'm putting those out for reference here on 12/16.

I'm guessing we don't get a partial announcement this year, and the full one comes out in January. Alternative, if they really want to wait for maximum development of information on the virus, vaccines, and local rules on crowds, then maybe a first few game announcement in January and the full slate in February.

 

[413Blue]

Odds of an MIB style start to the season?
I'd say its a reasonable possibility if they intend to start on the normal February/March window. I'm expecting restrictions in northern cities to remain until at least April, so an early start in Florida can give them something more predictable, and I bet Florida will let high profile athletes jump ahead and get vaccines in January or February so it won't be as strict of a bubble as last time.

 

[mgarbowski]

Odds of an MIB style start to the season?
I'd say it is a reasonable possibility if they intend to start on the normal February/March window. I'm expecting restrictions in northern cities to remain until at least April, so an early start in Florida can give them something more predictable, and I bet Florida will let high profile athletes jump ahead and get vaccines in January or February so it won't be as strict of a bubble as last time.

I had not considered that, but I think there's a decent chance it happens. NYCFC would probably not mind sacrificing a few home games, because they probably won't be able to have fans until June (or later) anyway.