Bradley Beal Supports Mayor Bowser's Cautious Approach to Fans in Sports Arenas

Beal supports DC Mayor's decision to not allow fans in stands yet originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Whether fans will be allowed at Washington Nationals baseball games this spring and summer has been a topic for debate lately, with some Nats players weighing in and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser last week asking for fans to "be patient." Basically, she's not ready to give the go-ahead for fans to gather in sports arenas despite other jurisdictions around the country loosening their rules.

Wizards guard Bradley Beal supports that decision. The NBA season is in full swing and would be affected sooner than the Nationals if Bowser were to allow fans in stadiums.

"I think what the mayor is doing is exemplary and what she has to do. I’m with her. I don’t think we should have fans until we’re good, honestly," Beal said on Sunday.

Beal didn't specify what he would like to see happen before fans are allowed at games. But he generally believes the coronavirus should be more under control than it currently is before the doors are opened at Capital One Arena.

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The U.S. is still seeing roughly 60,000 new cases and nearly 2,000 deaths per day due to Covid-19.

"I don’t want fans until everything is [safe]. My biggest concern is safety. I can hoop with or without fans, personally," he said. 

"I’m definitely not going to sit here and say we don’t miss the fans. It definitely changes the dynamic of the game, the intensity of the game in a way. But safety is the biggest and main concern."

The Wizards have not been able to permit any fans to attend home games this season. Some NBA teams around the country have allowed small amounts of fans, but every team has had capacity limited by the coronavirus.

As Beal noted, that has left teams without a homecourt advantage. The Wizards, for example, have the same record at home (7-10) as they do in away games (7-10).

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