NFL Requiring Fans In Attendance To Wear Masks

According to league sources, the NFL has decided that all fans in attendance will be required to wear face masks. The move will theoretically help fans from contracting COVID-19, as well as give players a sense of security -- even if viral load all but eliminates risk of fan-to-player transmission. 

Masking all fans seems incredibly inconvenient for those planning to attend games, and it likely means concessions are going to be drastically limited. How exactly can you enforce a rule to wear a mask when fans sip a beer or eat?

You can’t.

The idea of doing everything you can to protect a fanbase sounds great on paper, but how enticing could it be, sitting in the middle of the Tampa Bay heat with your face covered like Batman? Watching the game at home has always had some perks, but the new demand to wear a face mask makes the couch seem that much better.

Expect plenty of backlash from fans being ejected from games either inadvertently or intentionally removing the mask. Watching an NFL game in 2020 with a face covering might surpass the misery of a middle seat on Southwest Airlines. 

If you’re looking for ways to save some money this year, spending NFL Sundays at home to avoid a mask might be a start.