Behind closed doors (sport)
The term "behind closed doors" is used in several sports to describe matches played where spectators are not allowed in the stadium or venue to watch. The reasons for this may include punishment for a team found guilty of a certain act in the past, stadium safety problems, public health concerns, or to prevent potentially dangerous clashes between rival supporters.
Empty Ford Field in Detroit, USA, with only cardboard fans attending an NFL game amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Washington Nationals players during the national anthem in front of cardboard fans, 2020
NFL game between the New York Giants and Washington Football Team at MetLife Stadium without fans in October 2020
Signs placed by the Tokyo Tomin First no Kai political party calling for the 2020 Summer Olympics to be held behind closed doors
2020 Major League Baseball season
The 2020 Major League Baseball season began on July 23 and ended on September 27 with only 60 games amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The full 162-game regular season was planned to begin on March 26, but the pandemic caused Major League Baseball (MLB) to announce on March 12 that the remainder of spring training was canceled and that the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks. On March 16, MLB announced that the season would be postponed indefinitely, following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to restrict events of more than 50 people. This was the first time that MLB games had been put on hold since the 2001 season, when the season was paused for over a week after the September 11 attacks.
Cutout images of Washington Nationals fans placed in Nationals Park seats in August 2020