By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
The United Soccer League and the USL Players Association have reached a deal to play a 2020 season, though a source said Las Vegas Lights FC owner Brett Lashbrook voted against playing.
LVSportsBiz.com asked Lashbrook Saturday for a statement. Here’s his entire statement. Lashbrook declined to say how he voted.
“Like everyone associated with professional sports today, there remains real concerns and questions as to how to return to play in the world of coronavirus. This is all new to all of us and there are no simple answers or straight-forward solutions.
“USL being the first U.S. pro sports league to attempt to return via matches in team’s home venues instead of a centralized hub model is obviously more complex.
“To state the obvious, I don’t want to jeopardize the health & safety of the players and staffs throughout the League (or the fans when they are allowed to return to venues). With that said, I’m pleased by yesterday’s announcement that both the USL League Office and the USL Players Association agreed upon a very comprehensive set of return to play protocols regarding regular player testing and a multitude of steps to help minimize the spread of the disease in the weeks and months ahead.
“Further, due to the unprecedented times we find ourselves in with this pandemic, I have informed all Lights FC players that if they have any COVID-19 concerns related to traveling or playing matches this season that they will be fully excused from participating and still receive their full salaries until the end of the season. I feel very strongly that we all must make sure that everyone participating as either a player, coach, referee or fans is doing so with the full understanding of the current risks involved.”
The Tampa-based, 35-team United Soccer League said, “The two sides are now actively preparing for a July 11 restart to the 2020 Championship season and will resume negotiations on a historic first Collective Bargaining Agreement in the coming weeks.”
The league had talked about its teams playing opponents that are in their geographic regions of the country. That means the Lights, for example, would play USL teams a lot from Southern California and Arizona.
Lashbrook this week fired ex-coach Eric Wynalda. So, the Lights owner has to name a new coach for his team.
All sports leagues will inevitably find it challenging to restart seasons or even start a season, as in the case of Major League Baseball.
In the Tampa Bay market, for example, the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning and the MLB Philadelphia Phillies in their Clearwater spring camp shut down workouts after some of their players tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, which has claimed the lives of about 120,000 Americans.
The NBA, WNBA and NHL are using the hub city/bubble environment to play their games later this summer in 2020. It’s expected Las Vegas will host the NHL Eastern Conference playoff teams.
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