WEDNESDAY,APRIL8,2020 | THE GLOBE AND MAIL O B13
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THEASSOCIATEDPRESSSPORTS
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itstimeinthespotlight
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onallthingsLeafs B16VTODAYINSPORTSHISTORYWPutting all 30 teams in the Phoenix
area this season and playing in empty
ballparks was among the ideas dis-
cussed Monday by Major League Base-
ball and the players’ association.
The sides held a telephone call to
talk about paths forward for a season
delayed by the coronavirus pandemic,
people familiar with the discussion
told The Associated Press.
They spoke on condition of ano-
nymity because no details were an-
nounced.
Ideas are still in the early stage, and
the Arizona option would have many
obstacles to overcome, the people said.
“MLB has been actively considering
numerous contingency plans that
would allow play to commence once
the public health situation has im-
proved to the point that it is safe to do
so,” the commissioner’s office said in a
statement Tuesday.
“While we have discussed the idea
of staging games at one location as one
potential option, we have not settled
on that option or developed a detailed
plan.”
Baseball officials intend to study
which options may be viable.
“While we continue to interact regu-
larly withgovernmental and public
health officials, we have not sought or
received approval of any plan from
federal, state and local officials, or the
players’ association,” MLB said.
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RONALDBLUMNEW YORK
For the first time since halting play
four weeks ago, NHL commissioner Ga-
ry Bettman raised the possibility Tues-
day of not completing the regular sea-
son in order to squeeze in time to
award the Stanley Cup.
Bettman also acknowledged during
an interview with NBCSN the league is
considering having games played at
neutral sites in the event not all teams
will be allowed into their home rinks.
Bettman, however, stressed these
are among myriad options being con-
sidered with nothing determined be-
cause it will take at least two more
weeks to gain a clearer picture on how
the coronavirus pandemic is affectingthe league’s 31 markets.
“We’re looking at all options. Noth-
ing’s been ruled in. Nothing’s been
ruled out,” Bettman said during the in-
terview broadcast on the league’s U.S.
broadcast partner.
“The best thing and the easiest thing
would be if at some point we could
complete the regular season and then
go into the playoffs as we normally
do,” he said. “We understand that may
not be possible. And that’s why we’re
considering every conceivable alterna-
tive to deal with whatever the eventu-
ality is.”
Bettman had not previously raised
the possibility of shortening the regu-
lar season, which was halted on March
12 with 189 games remaining.
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notcompletingregularseason
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