Texas Stadiums Permitted To Operate At 50% Capacity

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said this week the state will enter a new phase in an attempted comeback from COVID-19. Texas’ professional and collegiate stadiums can operate at 50% capacity. This order is effective immediately.

This news comes despite Texas setting a new single-day state high for positive coronavirus tests earlier this week, according to the Dallas Morning News. But Texas was one of the first states to announce a reopening for sports.

While neither the Dallas Mavericks — who will head to Orlando to conclude the NBA season — nor IndyCar — which will start its 2020 season next week at Texas Motor Speedway with no fans — will take the state up on the loosened restrictions, this can be construed as a positive sign for the Cowboys and Texans. The PGA Tour will also not have fans in attendance at a Texas tournament next week.

The Cowboys and Texans being allowed to house a certain number of fans, however, would complicate the upcoming NFL-NFLPA negotiations. The NFL could enter the season with some states allowing fans in stadiums and others not, creating a key issue for the league and the union to negotiate.

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