On the eve of the Super Bowl weekend, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote to President Biden to tell him that each of the 32 teams in the league “will make its stadium available for mass vaccinations to the general public.”
News management: Goodell wrote in Thursday’s letter that this could be done quickly “because many of our clubs have previously offered their facilities as COVID testing centers, as well as polling stations over the past few months.”
Why does it matter: This continues the NFL’s effort to use its unique footprint to help the United States recover from the pandemic.
- The fact that a Super Bowl is even played in the middle of the pandemic reflects the successful navigation of the obstacles in the NFL, which once threatened to reduce or close the season.
- Amazingly, the league played all 256 matches of the regular season, without cancellation, reports AP.
- The NFL is treating 7,500 vaccinated health workers across the country in places in the reduced pandemic crowd for Sunday’s game in Tampa.
Write Goodell’s letter The NFL is “committed to doing our part to ensure that vaccines are as widely available as possible in our communities.”
- The clubs will provide the stadiums “in coordination with local, state and federal health officials.”
Read the full letter through DocumentCloud.