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Florida Open To Professional Sports Teams

The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, has been very open about the importance of trying to keep the economy going during this health crisis. He has welcomed sports leagues and teams from around the country.

It started with declaring the WWE an essential service in the state of Florida. He talked about how people were “starved for content,” especially within the sports community.

“I think people are chomping at the bit,” he said. “I mean, if you think about it, we’ve never had a period like this in modern American history where you’ve had such little new content, particularly in the sporting realm. I mean, people are watching, we’re watching, like, reruns from the early 2000s.”

This was able to keep Wrestlemania 33 intact. They were able to hold the event in the training facility in Orlando.

Then recently, the UFC made a comeback. Last Saturday, the first UFC card was held for the first time since the COVID-19 concerns arose. They held the fights, and continue to do so, in a spectator-less arena in Jacksonville.

The Mayor of Jacksonville has been right alongside Dana White, ensuring that these fights would continue. They have remained a state where restrictions have been loosened, especially for sports entertainment.

Golf is going to be shortly making its way to the sunshine state. The Tiger/Peyton vs. Phil/Brady match will also take place in Florida. On May 24th, the pro golfer and celebrity match will take place in Hobe Sound.

Who Might Join

DeSantis became the second governor, after Arizona’s Governor Doug Ducey, to announce that Florida was open to pro sports teams.

“All professional sports are welcome here for practicing and for playing,” DeSantis said at a news conference Wednesday in Tallahassee. “What I would tell commissioners of leagues is, if you have a team in an area where they just won’t let them operate, we’ll find a place for you here in the state of Florida.”

DeSantis has already launched phase 1 of reopening the state to normal business. Miami-Dade County will be joining these lessened restrictions next week.

The Miami Heat have reopened their facility for voluntary, individual workouts. Sources told ESPN that 12 players went on the opening day.

When discussing the options of other sports coming to Florida, Desantis specifically mentioned baseball, soccer, and basketball.

“What I would tell commissioners of leagues is: ‘If you have a team in an area where they just won’t let them operate, we’ll find a place for ya in the state of Florida. Because we think it’s important, and we know that it can be done safely,'” DeSantis said.

He mentioned that Major League Soccer had thoughts of having their season in Orlando. He is welcoming of that idea, and more. States like New Jersey and New York might have some complications with social distancing for a little while longer. Places like Florida might be a saving grace.

“Our people are starved to have some of this back in our lives,” he said. “I think we can certainly do it in a way that’s safe.”

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