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Not everyone wants to see sports back soon — and some believe they never would feel “safe’’ attending a large-venue sporting event again.
In a survey of 2,029 adults conducted by the Harris Poll, one in five Americans (21 percent) say nothing would make them feel safe attending a sporting event at a large venue post-COVID-19.
That’s a significant amount of fans who have long-term fear about life in a post-coronavirus world. Of that group polled, 170 were New Yorkers, 15 percent of whom claimed they never will want to attend a sporting event again in a packed arena.
The survey showed 31 percent of people saying they would feel safe in an arena/stadium only if mandatory masks were in place for patrons. The Harris survey was conducted April 18-20 and The Post obtained an advanced look at the results.
In addition, 34 percent of Americans surveyed contend that sports leagues should cancel this season and wait until the start of next season to resume after the pandemic. It is another sign fans are willing to be patient with no vaccines available.
The NBA and NHL have suspended their seasons that were closing in on the playoffs while MLB postponed the launch of its campaign set for late March. The NFL says it’s on track to start its season in September.
Fans didn’t sound like they would flock back to venues, even if the government provides information that the spread of the virus is flattening.
The polls show 57 percent saying it would take four months or longer to return — with just 6 percent saying they would be back immediately.
“Americans are coming to grips and managing their expectations about hot dogs and a seventh-inning stretch,’’ Harris Poll CEO John Gerzema said. “Fans in seats or not, we want sports. More Americans will take a season without fans than cancel it outright.”
A recent Sharkey Institute poll showed 72 percent claiming they wouldn’t return to attending games unless a Coronavirus vaccine is proven effective.
In the Harris poll, 40 percent said they’d be fine if the season went on now without fans/or restarting the current season without fans but adding them in later.
Fans still are pining for their sporting events, with 45 percent saying they miss watching live sports on TV.
