Why it matters: The Marlins' COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent game cancellations come just a few days after the 2020 MLB season opened — signaling how difficult it is to achieve any sense of normalcy during a global pandemic.
Baseball might get canceledthis season, putting TV networks and pay-TV providers in a position to lose as much as $587 million in national TV ad dollars, according to a new report from iSpotTV, a TV ad measurement company.
Why it matters: These figures are on top of mounting ad losses for the television industry. EMarketer expects television ad revenue to be down $10 billion in the first half of the year, due mostly to the coronavirus.
NIAID Director Anthony Fauci set an all-time print run record with his baseball card from leading manufacturer Topps, the company announced Monday.
Catch up quick: Fauci kept his ceremonial first pitch socially distanced from home plate last week, which did not deter fans from buying over 50,000 of his limited edition trading cards.
In less than four days, the 2020 MLB season is seriously at risk after at least 14 members of the Miami Marlins tested positive for the coronavirus, canceling games in Miami and Philadelphia and kicking off an emergency league meeting.
Why it matters: It's a bad sign for baseball moving forward. But most importantly, it's a bad sign for just about everything in our daily lives — showing that something approaching normal can't simply be willed into existence.
The NBA is teaming up with Microsoft to bring virtual fans to its live games in Orlando, Florida, starting July 30, using Microsoft's new "together mode," which it debuted earlier this month.
Why it matters: The move is part of the league's overhaul to how it presents games during the coronavirus pandemic. It will also position cameras closer to players to mimic the vantage point of seats near the court.
The Miami Marlins' home opener on Monday night against the Baltimore Orioles was canceled after eight more players and two coaches tested positive for the coronavirus, ESPN reports.
Why it matters: It highlights the difficulty of carrying out a sports season as the nation's virus caseload continues to grow. The MLB chose to allow teams to travel around the country, opting out of the "bubble" environment that other leagues have favored.
Sunday was NHL move-in day, as the 24 teams set to participate in the league's restart arrived in Toronto (East) and Edmonton (West), where they'll be separated from the general population and tested daily for coronavirus.
