N.Y. Governor doubles down on sports without fans in the stands: ´Ready, willing and able´

One week after Major League Baseball presented its plan to return amid the COVID-19 crisis, Cuomo said Monday at his daily press conference that the Empire State is on board with facilitating the return of sports, with one caveat.

“I also have been encouraging major sports teams to plan reopenings without fans. But the games could be televised. New York State will help those major sports franchises to do just that. Hockey, basketball, baseball, football -- whoever can reopen -- we’re a ready, willing, and able partner ... If they can make the numbers work, I say great -- come back. ... Why wait until you can fill a stadium before you start to bring a team back? If you can televise it in the meantime, great.”

On Saturday, Cuomo said he’s encouraged by recent talks to restart baseball and appeared to give his blessing for the New York Yankees to return to the Bronx this year. Per Spectrum News’ Nick Reisman:
Cuomo on Yankees and Mets playing: “If you have an economic activity that can take place and generates economic interest and entertainment interest...when you look at the risk-reward, there’s a lot of reward with minimal risk.”

Last month, Cuomo called for the return of sports, but said fans shouldn’t be allowed in the stands. “I would like to start watching sports. You know, whether or not we sit in a stadium with thousands of others, I don’t know that that is in the short term for the foreseeable future, but I don’t know why we can’t watch it on television, right? Why can’t you have games with no audiences, and just to start the sports and entertainment so people have something to watch and follow?”

One week ago, MLB owners approved a plan to reopen spring training as early as next month, with regular-season games beginning in early July (although fans wouldn’t be allowed to attend games).