Corona Virus - We're Doomed

I just don't see what the pressing need is to finish the league. I mean, much more commercially and socially important events (including pretty much all the biggest events in sport from every significant football league in the world, EUROs, Copa America, NBA, golf and tennis majors) have been postponed/suspended/cancelled, but it's really critical for the A-league to finish the season? Do we honestly think that?

It could just be that they expect this will all be over in three months time and are afraid they will have to compete with NRL for the ground bookings and so on.

I personally think it will take longer than that for life to return to semi-normal.  We are mainly trying to flatten the infection curve so as to give the health sector a chance to work within its ability.  That means prolonging the crisis but making it more manageable. Isolation will remain the key.

And that is sort of the crux of it.

There is basically no live sport now happening in the world. Fox want some content badly. They know with millions of people around the globe now effectively confined to their home 24/7 (many being sports fanatics), they could probably make a dollar or two extra out of selling the A League. Ratings could be an all time high. 

Here in Peru it's now a 2 week State of Emergency. The streets are almost eerie, so empty. Cops everywhere enforcing the lock down, telling you to stay home. Only businesses allowed to be open are super markets and pharmacies. Locals will be climbing the walls soon, esp without their La Liga or Copa Libertadores fix. This lock down could remain for weeks extra. Got a random text from Netflix inviting me to join. They will be raking it in.

If Fox and FFA can pull this off, they will be quietly ecstatic.

Yesh and bet they wont share any of that windfall. Shows who is actually running the games.

?

Aussie chief medical officer and PM now saying very clearly there is no point shutting down anything for 4 weeks (eg schools), as the virus will still be around; needs a sustainable SIX MONTH approach. Also stated no lockdown imminent. Travel advice level 4 - do not travel overseas; domestic flights not an issue. Maintaining status quo of outdoor events over 500 banned; indoor of 100 (possible review after next cabinet meeting on Friday). Aged care facilities will restrict access. Perth not about to be isolated (indigenous communities however may be exclusion zones). 

.....So as of today, there is no reason A league won't try to play games behind closed doors this weekend.

Be kind. #ShopNormally.

A lot of those events have a lot more money, and also situation a lot worse in US/Europe.

I don't think it's ultra critical to finish the A-League, but should try to if can. Health authorities have said to NRL that there's isn't much risk in continuing if keep players secluded, I assume the A-League is getting the same advice.

Not sure about all sports, but lawn bowls is still proceeding on at this stage, even with a lot of high risk participants.

Good article explaining the business of Aussie sports shutting down

For AFL/NRL..Just one year of broadcast revenue is by itself more than either code's cash reserves. That means that without even factoring in any other commercial impacts, neither could cover the loss of its broadcast money without having to beg or borrow.

Soccer is in a slightly different situation, given the transfer of Australia's major domestic leagues from FFA control to a transitional body. The W-League and A-League seasons are drawing to a close, so they have fewer remaining commitments to broadcasters.

In bowls the players don't need to go anywhere near each other

Don't have to, but are still holding their bowls and then sometimes may need to pick up other people's bowls, and realistically usually do stand close to each other a lot.

Well, yeah, I assumed that there would be Bowls Sanitizer involved

We're up to 20 cases now. And expect that number to keep climbing.

Apart from lawn bowls, what is continuing?

Yeah. We actually still have the chance to keep it pretty contained, but probably need to stop dithering with half-measures. Suspect that Aussie have left it to spread too much to be able to effectively and quickly control it.

quite a lot hasn't been cancelled or postponed yet. 

NRL still going, A-league still going, Super Rugby planning to restart in some local format in 2 weeks (after highlanders have completed their self-isolation). Most community sport has been canned though, rugby, netball and football today has been delayed until may.

Give it a few more days.

Club cricket still going.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120333168/coronavirus-cricketers--dont-use-saliva-on-the-ball

Nope, all cricket was cancelled a couple of hours ago.

ANZ Netball Champs and ASB Prem not cancelled yet. Stupid statement. Not withstanding NZF/Feds hadn't even made a decision then.

Wanna bet that they'll both be canned in the next 24-48 hours?

No

Bowls New Zealand are going against the grain and just posted an update saying club bowls should go ahead despite other sports being cancelled because (in bold) "our communities need to stay connected". They also note that the Ministry of Health isn't currently promoting cancellation of local sport.

Gone

Masks on, shin pads on, let's go!

Literally by the hour it is becoming more and more absurd that the league is going ahead.

Everything has shut down around us yet we think that we're not making anything worse by playing. Sydney is the epicentre in AUS. Think caterers, medics, staffers that are gonna be affected. 

Mental FFA. Mental Fox

Hope Fox have promised the Nix a shark load.

What is happening with the A-League and the  FFA is obscene. It’s bordering on criminal negligence lMO. We have had 8 new cases of the virus....it’s following the same pattern as Europe. It was 4 new cases Monday, 8 yesterday, it will be 20 a day, then 40 then 100 and then it will go ballistic. People will start dying. Someone should start showing some leadership. If the FFA won’t shut it down then Welnix should bring the team home. The players and staff should be at home with their families preparing for what is about to hit.

I would expect by the end of the month NZ will be in a Europe like shutdown......everything will be shut except food outlets. Sport is irrelevant. Most of Europe is under what amounts to martial law. In France you need to down load a govt form if you want to leave your house stating why and where you are going. You are allowed out for emergencies or to buy food or light exercise . My wife went for a walk yesterday and 400 meters from our house the cops stopped her, checked her form and said she could only briefly exercise in front of our house.

This is coming to NZ and it’s coming fast. Please, please prepare yourselves.

Keep safe.

Not a fan of Stuff at all, but this pretty much says it all. 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120369910/coronavirus-nrl-aleague-in-danger-of-being-of-the-wrong-side-of-history