By Hoai-Tran Bui/May 15, 2020 11:30 am EST
Buck added that the faux fan noises and images will be used to make the games “a normal viewing experience at home.”
Under the CDC’s recommendations during the coronavirus pandemic, public gatherings of more than 10 people are barred, which prevents the NFL from filling up stadiums with fans wanting to attend games. There is no confirmation yet on whether the NFL plans to hold its 101st season of the National Football League, which is scheduled to begin on September 10. The NFL and college football are currently in their offseasons, but the NFL conducted its annual draft in April. Meanwhile it moved its offseason program to the virtual realm and is still not letting teams return to facilities.
If the NFL were to restart its season come September, that will be the most eerie season of professional football we’ll see. Virtually-inserted crowd noises and fan images probably won’t make up for the fact that those stadiums really are empty, and trying to pretend they’re not will only be more bizarre. Is football so dependent on crowds anyways? It’s not like WrestleMania, which has morphed into a David Lynch film ever since deciding to hold matches without a crowd.
But Buck is confident that it won’t trip up viewers, adding, “I think whoever’s going to be at that control is going to have to be really good at their job and be realistic with how a crowd would react, depending on what just happened on the field, so it’s really important.”
