Sports and The Law: In Florida, Essential Business Are Health Care, Food — And Now Pro Sports With National Audiences Too

By Daniel Lust for LVSportsBiz.com   Twitter: @SportsLawLust

Pro sports are considered “essential” business?

The answer was “no” until Florida changed its mind and, in so doing, created a controversial loophole.

Businesses that appear universally “essential” are in the health care, food, and energy sectors. Surprisingly, Florida amended its list so that it now includes “employees at a professional sports and media production with a national audience — including any athletes, entertainers, production team, executive team, media team and any others necessary to facilitate including services supporting such production — only if the location is closed to the general public.”

When pushed for clarification, the Governor’s Office said they wanted to allow sports “because they are critical to Florida’s economy.”

Are they now… or will they be?

This has potentially tremendous ramifications. Leagues have been scoping out locations nationwide to create isolation bubbles to play without fans: Arizona (MLB), Vegas (NBA), and North Dakota (NHL). All of a sudden, Florida is a very attractive site which would – of course – be “critical to Florida’s economy.” Essentially a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Now, we wait and see how other states react. If they refuse to create their own sports exception, Florida may become the epicenter of the sports world.

Here’s some background: https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/04/14/florida-classifies-pro-sports-as-essential-services-during-pandemic/

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