In order to protect the league’s 32 teams from potential lawsuits related to COVID-19, the NFL may ask fans to sign liability waivers before they attend games, according to The Athletic.
“It is probably something you do electronically, just trying to figure out the operational challenges associated with waivers,” a source familiar with the league’s plans for stadium reopening told the publication. “Just have to work out how best to do that.”
Along with waivers, the NFL may have stadiums stop accepting cash, require that concession stands only offer prepackaged food and require all fans to wear masks. The ready availability of hand sanitizer and consistent stadium cleaning are almost surely going to be mandated as well.
“Those are all items that are being explored at this point with the health and safety of fans and players and personnel as the primary focus,” a source told The Athletic.
The waiver proposal, along with the other suggested measures, is likely to be forwarded to teams by the middle of next week so a decision about enforcement can be made.
Whether the league ultimately decides to go with waivers or not, they won’t have to be signed before Weeks 1 and 4 of the preseason, as the games which were scheduled to take place at those times have been scrapped.
Teams will now play preseason games from August 20-24 and August 27-31, during what were originally supposed to be the second and third weeks of exhibition play.
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