Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said sports are now clear to return to Florida as long as fans are not in attendance.
He said at a news conference in Tallahassee that all sports, including state teams, could return to the state as of Wednesday.
NEW: Pro sports teams from any city are welcome to play in Florida, Gov. DeSantis says.
“We know that it can be done safely,” the governor says. pic.twitter.com/oQBZsgKV0j
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) May 13, 2020
“Our people are starved to have some of this back in their lives,” DeSantis said. “I think we can certainly do it in a way that’s safe.” DeSantis specifically mentioned soccer, basketball, and baseball as the sports he would like to see return to Florida. (RELATED: NBPA Representatives Send ‘Yes Or No’ Texts To Players About Season Returning)
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has opened the state to any pro sport team. “What I would tell commissioners of leagues is if you have a team in an area where they just won’t let ’em operate, we’ll find a place for your here in the state of Florida…we know it can be done safely.”
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 13, 2020
DeSantis also noted that several professional leagues, such as the NHL, have floated the idea of bringing teams to a central facility in Florida for games.
“What I would tell commissioners of leagues,” said DeSantis, “is if you have a team in an area where they just won’t let ’em operate, we’ll find a place for you here in the state of Florida.”