In an email sent to ticket holders for this season on Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder announced that they will not be hosting fans at their home games for the 2020-21 season, becoming the first NBA team to decide not to have fans to have. .
“The decision was based on several factors,” read the email. “The latest is that the overall health and safety of our fans and our community is most important to us.”
Before the start of the season, the Thunder planned to host limited capacity fans, with established health and safety protocols throughout the arena. However, with the fall spike in COVID-19 cases across the country, and especially in Oklahoma, the team announced it would start the season with no fans in late November.
Yet despite a positive trendline in declining cases and hospital admissions in the state, the Thunder made the final decision to continue the season without fans, citing that it is’ too early ‘and that there are’ too many variables yet to be discussed. overcome. . “to bring thousands of fans back to the arena.
“ Our long-term personal relationships with our fans are something we value, and as we look to the future with you, it is critical that we make sure that when you return, it is in a safer environment than the one we find ourselves in. now, ”he told the team.
With the Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Hornets announcing plans to host fans later this month, there are now 18 teams welcoming fans to the arenas or having a plan for the foreseeable future. Teams that allow fans do so with reduced capacity to allow for physical distance, with turnout in the 10-15% range (usually around 3,000 total fans).
The Thunder, known for their enthusiastic local fan base, said the “limited gaming experience” that fans would find “under the strict conditions that would be required” also played a role in the decision.
“With the current protocols required, we cannot meet our standards for an engaging and high-quality entertainment experience,” said the team. “We’ve always felt an obligation to perform for our fans in this area, but under these circumstances we don’t think it’s possible.”
In Oklahoma, public health measures such as masking and physical distance have polarizing problems. And within the organization, people are aware of the tension that enforcing the protocols in matches between the team and the fans could create.
The email said the Thunder wants to turn their attention to preparing to host fans for the 2021-22 season.
“We want to make sure that your experience with our games is always safe, healthy and the best it can be,” said the team. “We hope to have them back under those conditions next season.”