Sports stadiums of the future coverage advisory

Updated Jun. 11, 2020 4:21 p.m. ET

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In coming months, fans will be able to return to live sporting events as health and safety rules ebb and flow with the coronavirus pandemic. They can expect to see some changes. Since May 31, the AP has been sending a series of stories exploring what will be different right away and what to expect in the future at stadiums, arenas and other sports venues. This advisory is subject to change and may be updated. Please direct questions to Dave Zelio (dzelio@ap.org). All times Eastern.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-STADIUMS-HALLS OF FAME

As part of a $22 million, court-to-rafters renovation, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame installed enough new touch screens to tell the story of every person enshrined on its dome of honor. Other interactive exhibits allowed visitors to compare the size of their hands to stars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. But before it could unveil the improvements, the coronavirus outbreak hit, turning “hands-on” into “hands-off.” Now the basketball shrine and other sports Halls of Fame have been forced to backtrack from a longtime trend in all museums toward interactives that have become taboo in a pandemic era. By Jimmy Golen. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 6 p.m. June 11.

PREVIOUSLY SENT:

VIRUS OUTBREAK-STADIUMS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Imagine walking into a stadium and having your every move scrutinized by lasers and cameras. Imagine nobody next to you to high-five after a touchdown, or never handing cash to the beer vendor between innings. As sports have begun to return around the world, the only thing that even comes close to normalcy is happening on the field. For the fans, team owners, sponsors and just about everyone else associated with college and professional sports, the coronavirus pandemic has forced changes both big and small. And many of them could stick well into the future. By Dave Skretta. SENT: , May 31. An abridged version of 750 words was also sent.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-STADIUMS-AIR WE BREATHE

MINNEAPOLIS — Addressing airborne threats like the novel coronavirus is a particular challenge. Many venues already use high-efficiency filtration that can capture most virus particles. The bad news is even the world’s most effective HVAC systems can’t guarantee safey from a cough or a sneeze from an infected person nearby. By Dave Campbell. SENT: , June 1.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-STADIUMS-DISTANCING

It used to be that empty seats caused palpitations in team owners and college administrators relying on ticket sales and concessions to beef up the profit margins. Now, those empty seats – and short lines and clear concourses – will be the norm for a while as sports grapples with social distancing requirements. By Dave Skretta. SENT: , June 2.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-STADIUMS-PRIVACY

What would you be willing to give up to see your favorite team in person? Would you be willing to hand over your medical information, provide background details and allow your every move to be tracked inside a stadium? As teams prepare to welcome back fans, there are serious legal and ethical questions that must be answered. By Dave Campbell. SENT: , June 3.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-STADIUMS-FANS

The robust TV experience available to fans had already been causing a decline in ticket demand. Now, with strict restrictions likely to be in place when fans are finally welcomed back to games, many more may choose to watch from home. Could that mean the end of the Bleacher Creatures at Yankee Stadium, the Dawg Pound in Cleveland and 12th Man at Texas A&M, at least as we know it? By Dave Skretta. SENT: , June 7.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-STADIUMS-PLAYERS

Salvador Perez loves nothing more than to toss baseballs to kids and banter with fans before a game. But when asked about playing in front of empty seats, the Kansas City Royals catcher looked downright depressed. “It just won’t be the same,” he said. And that sentiment is shared by athletes who play for the love of the game but also the love of the fans. By Dave Campbell. SENT: , June 8.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-STADIUMS-FINANCES

Sports franchises and college athletic departments already have been crushed financially by COVID-19. Now, they may have to deal with reduced crowds and invest in expensive new technology to keep fans safe. That may not be such a big deal to the NFL and Major League Baseball, which have lucrative television contracts. It may be downright crippling to Major League Soccer and colleges that rely on fans in seats. By Dave Skretta. SENT: , June 9. With , (sent June 11).

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Salvador Perez