MLS commissioner Don Garber said that he's "very optimistic" about teams playing in their home markets after the conclusion of the MLS is Back Tournament in August, and that it's possible some might be played in front of fans.
Garber spoke to reporters on a video call to discuss the league's return to the field, with the first games taking place on July 8 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World. (The Walt Disney Co. owns ESPN).
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The league's 26 teams will be divided into six groups, and will play a minimum of three games during a group stage, followed by knockout rounds to determine the winner. MLS has been shut down since March 12, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"I'm very optimistic, and I expect that we will be back in our stadiums. We just don't know the exact date," Garber said about playing matches after the tournament. "Obviously this is all unfolding in real time, and literally every day."
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He added: "Whether or not we'll have any markets with fans is also uncertain but we're also hearing about different guidelines that have been established state by state where there's even a possibility that some fans might be able to attend games."
Garber said that it is not yet clear exactly when teams will be able to begin playing games in their home markets.
Garber also addressed questions about the testing protocols that will be in place. While the protocols for players and staff are extensive -- they'll be tested every other day during their first two weeks in Orlando -- the workers at the hotels and Wide World of Sports complex will not be tested, but are set to receive temperature checks, and fill out a daily questionnaire.
Asked if that was a possible avenue for community spread of COVID-19, Garber indicated he was satisfied with the plans in place and said: "I don't think a bus driver is going to be in close contact with somebody walking on the bus."
"Those staff people will not be coming in close contact with our players," Garber said. "And if they were going to be in close contact, we would manage it through a different protocol.
"So we're all going to be living in a world where we were not going to be able to test every person that comes in contact with each other or comes in contact with us as we go on with our lives."
Cases of COVID-19 in Orlando have increased 64 percent since May 5, and hospitalization rates have risen, though local officials have attributed the rise to increased testing and the loosening of restrictions.
Garber said: "We are obviously, like everybody, monitoring what goes on and what has been going on with [COVID-19] in every state, including in Florida and the number of cases in Florida have been less than in many, many other places.
"So we're confident that we'll be able to manage our tournament, which is isolated from the public."
Source: espn.co.uk