Anyone who has even vaguely followed the news during the past few weeks is well aware that “business as usual” is hardly the case in terms of the coronavirus. What began as a slightly disturbing trend within mainland China has now entered the United Kingdom and firmly established itself amongst countless communities.
Although the notion of postponing or even cancelling games would have been unthinkable in the past, this could very well become a reality in the not-so-distant future. Let’s not forget that the entire La Liga series has just been suspended and it might only be a matter of time before the United Kingdom takes similar steps. What could such a move mean for NUFC fans and if games are indeed played behind closed doors, how might this impact the sport as a whole in the future?
Keeping Things in Perspective
The first and most important observation to highlight is the simple fact that this current situation will pass with time. The league realises this and as a result, any measures that may be taken are sure to be temporary. While this will do nothing to help ticket sales, there is no doubt that fans will remain loyal. Furthermore, there is a fine line between a rational approach and an hysterical reaction. The United Kingdom has not yet entered into a contagion phase similar to Italy and as a result, the drastic actions which are taking place across mainland Europe might not come to pass. There is nonetheless a question of whether or not the league will choose to display gameplay entirely. In the event that a single player tests positive for the virus, the chances are high that management will opt to suspend all competitions until the outbreak abates or simply exhausts itself.
The Show Must Go On
There are several steps which fans can take in order to remain in the proverbial loop. It is always a good idea for fans to follow reputable news sources such as SkyCity blog so that they can have access to the latest sporting news. Furthermore, there are plenty of ways to watch competitions via live online streaming platforms even if the events themselves cannot be attended.
Football organisers likewise recognise the fact that a great deal of revenue will be lost as a result of poor (or no) attendance. This could actually prove to be beneficial for fans in the long run, as the subsequent tickets may be priced significantly cheaper in order to encourage attendance and to make up for lost revenue.
We are indeed living within very interesting times and the true extent of the coronavirus has yet to be fully appreciated. Still, these are not the end times nor are we experiencing an apocalypse. As the expression goes, the show must go on. Players will keep training, NUFC fans will remain loyal and above all, we should expect to ses a return to normalcy sooner as opposed to later. In other words, a modicum of patience will go a long way in the coming days.
