The return of American football brings joy in the midst of COVID-19 malaise

LOS ANGELES, Sept 24 (Reuters) – The return of fans to NFL games this season has been a welcome boost to the thriving nation of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed thousands of lives and forced changes in almost every part of America.

Fans were largely shut down from stadiums last season to prevent the virus from spreading, but have returned to power, wearing jerseys in Dallas, face paint in Seattle and pieces of cheese in Green Bay.

“It was hard to watch cardboard clips in the auditoriums and vent the noise last season,” Hall of Fame defender Joe Montana told Reuters.

“It’s great that people are back in place. It means a lot to everyone in this country. Everyone says baseball is an American sport, but I’m asking for a difference. I think football is.”

Before through, 93% of all season ticket holders renewed their tickets, a five-year high, and nearly two million fans have participated in regular season games so far this year, just before 2019, the NFL said.

Montana, which led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl victories, is part of a new Guinness campaign to celebrate football fans reuniting over a pint of the famous Irish Stout.

“We have good things on hand,” says an optimistic ad from Montana.

Americans hope the nation will finally turn the page on a pandemic that has killed more than 670,000 people in the United States since the virus broke out early last year.

The number of new cases in the United States is receding and the recent wave of COVID-19 hospitalization, mostly among non-vaccinees, may also have peaked, although the nation still recorded about 1,500 COVID-19 deaths per day last week. CDC data. Read more

If the positive trends continue, all roads will lead to the expected Super Bowl on February 13 in Los Angeles at the city’s new, newest SoFi Stadium.

“It’s a sign in space and time for everyone that things have returned to normal,” Montana said.

“Especially if they get a good game,” he said, adding that he expects a rematch from last year’s championship match between Tom Brady’s Buccaneers and Patrick Mahomes ’Chiefs.

LA-based Event Producers, such as John Terzian, owner of h.wood Group, said the energy of the games this season has been unparalleled.

“I’ve never seen such excitement in all my years,” said Terzian, whose field-level club at Bootsy Bellows SoFi Stadium was full of rolling fans and A-list celebrities at the opening of the Rams home.

“I think it will be one of the best Super Bowls ever. We plan to hold events,” he said.

“People are very excited to get back to the events they like, and the NFL is at the top of the list.”

Editor Christian Radnedge

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