By Laura Lydic, Colin Schraudner & Aaron Thomas
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writers
Sports came to a grinding halt as the COVID-19 pandemic came to the United States. The state of Maryland was hit significantly less hard than others like New York — at least in the initial spring wave. But, nonetheless, the pandemic still upended sports everywhere. One of the most visible signs of this: Fans not being allowed in stadiums and arenas in many parts of the country.
It hasn’t just impacted pro and college sports. High school sports also haven’t been the same this fall.
“COVID-19 affected us in a negative way because it took our fans away,” said Lawrence Fenlock, offensive coordinator for The John Carroll School, a private school in Harford County. “Taking our fans away on Friday nights is tough. We love the energy the students bring and when they aren’t there it changes the atmosphere of a Friday night.”
It’s not only the players who suffer. Going to football games is part of the high school ritual for students.
“No fans affects everyone at the school,” Fenlock said. “From the players to the students, everyone is losing in this situation. The change in the atmosphere does not allow for the same energy the team has had in the past, being cheered on can change the game in a positive way. This was a safe fun environment for students to hang out with their friends as well. Now that’s gone.”
DJ Fronek, the starting quarterback for John Carroll, said not having fans has made the game atmosphere more stale. He is used to being in a stadium full of parents and students.
“Not having fans was tough — a lot of energy comes from the student body,” Fronek said. “Not having them there was just weird. Didn’t feel like it was an actual game.”
Without fans, players can hear everything in the huddle easily — and hear what the opposition is saying as well.
“Not having fans was weird,” Fronek said. “It’s very odd how I can hear the offensive players talking about the play.”
But some players say they are already adjusting to games without fans. Tyre Phillips, an offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens and rookie out of Mississippi State who was on the Netflix series Last Chance U, said players have to pick up the slack.
“It’s quieter, sure, but it’s not a different atmosphere at the game because everybody brings their own energy,” Phillips said.
Players are still hyping themselves up and bringing the energy they need, but they cannot feed off of the fans’ energy. But for some players like Phillips, not having fans doesn’t have that big of an effect.
“You miss the energy from the fans but I don’t think it affects me at all,” Phillips said. “Before the pandemic, sometimes it was like the fans weren’t there. I would be so focused.”
Not only are players adjusting to games with no fans, but team owners are having to adjust to severe losses in gameday revenue. According to reports, organizations that were hurt the most by the lack of fans are the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.
Many sports are seeing dramatic losses in revenue — including the NFL, NBA, and MLB. This revenue shortfall makes it even more important that professional sports leagues play a full (or close to full schedule) so they earn money from television revenue.
College sports are largely playing without fans as well. Towson University is one of them. SECU Arena will be empty this other than essential personnel. Teams will also practice social distancing on the bench — with chairs spaced six feet apart. Coaches, players on the bench, referees, media personnel and staff will all be required to wear masks.
Listen here to players discuss what it’s like playing without fans.