The Chicago Bears May Not Hold Training Camp in Illinois By Erik Lambert - May 11th, 2020
Chicago Bears fans knew that the 2020 season was going to be different once the COVID-19 pandemic kicked into high gear. What they don’t yet know is just how different. Will the Bears play a full schedule? Will fans even be allowed in the stands? The reality is nobody can say for sure because so much of it depends on what the virus does.
One thing people haven’t considered is training camp. It’s common knowledge by now that the Bears had planned to start holding their summer work sessions at the new practice facilities at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. This after several years of partnership with Bourbonnais, Illinois. However, even that plan might be put on hold.
According to Albert Breer of the MMQB, several teams might have to find camp locations outside of their home states.
I understand it's a tough call for teams to make. It would seem to be safest for the players and staff to have TC at the new Halas Hall facility with max precautions in place (including testing). I understand it's a big deal to provide the level of precautionary measures needed. It's going to be dicey once the season begins (if in fact it does) due to the fact an outbreak of this highly contagious virus would probably cripple a team. At the very least you'd probably see units losing multiple starters. At worst we could see teams not being able to play a game (or games) due to them not having enough players to play a game. And I have to wonder how well some players will be able to compete in games if they've gone through a bout with the virus - assuming they didn't die.
There are a lot of questions and unknowns here. Maybe some teams will be totally unscathed by the virus. But I have to believe some will get hit hard. Which brings up the point, how "fair" is it competition-wise if we do see a team ultimately win the Super Bowl if far better teams simply couldn't compete due to the virus? But maybe that's just like the injury bug... if some teams get hurt more than others, it's just the way it is. I'm not arguing for or against it all. Just scratching my head wondering how it will play out. I do believe the season will get played. I just don't know what that will look like though.