Will pods get fans in NFL seats for upcoming season to be played amid coronavirus pandemic?

While some teams have said they will not be welcoming fans back into stands for the upcoming season as the coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep across the country, some teams are trying to get some people to watch the games in person from the seats.

That’s where pods come in.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said there could be pods of fans - no more than 15 people - in groups scattered around AT&T Stadium, CBS Sports reported.

Jones said the team will abide by the protocols set by the NFL, but will adapt them.

He also is putting liability on the fans.

“The people that will be there will be there of their own volition,” Jones said, according to CBS Sports. “Our fans will be in the stadium because they’ve chosen to be there.”

Normally AT&T Stadium holds more than 100,000 fans, but Jones won’t say exactly how many people will be allowed to attend in person this season, CBS Sports reported.

The Cowboys are not the only team considering the pod format.

Yahoo Sports is reporting that the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots are also apparently looking at similar plans.

Teams have been adding clauses to the ticket agreement terms that are in play when a person buys a ticket.

The Atlanta Falcons’ ticketback terms state that the attendee holds all liability.

Read the clauses here or below:

HOLDER VOLUNTARILY ASSUMES ALL RISKS, HAZARDS AND DANGERS incident to the Event and related events, including the risk of personal injury (including death), the risk of exposure to communicable diseases, viruses, bacteria or illnesses or the causes thereof, sickness, or lost, stolen or damaged property, whether occurring before, during, or after the Event, however caused, and hereby waives all claims and potential claims relating to such risks, hazards and dangers. AN INHERENT RISK OF EXPOSURE TO COVID-19 EXISTS IN ANY PUBLIC PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE PRESENT. COVID-19 IS AN EXTREMELY CONTAGIOUS DISEASE THAT CAN LEAD TO SEVERE ILLNESS AND DEATH. ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, SENIOR CITIZENS AND THOSE WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE.

BY ENTERING THE STADIUM AND STADIUM GROUNDS, HOLDER VOLUNTARILY ASSUMES ALL RISKS RELATED TO EXPOSURE TO COVID-19. Management is not responsible for lost, stolen, destroyed, duplicated or counterfeit tickets and may refuse to honor such tickets. Further, this ticket may not be used for, or in connection with, any form of commercial or trade purposes including, but not limited to, any advertising, promotions, contests, sweepstakes, giveaways, gambling or gaming activities, without the express written consent of the Atlanta Falcons and the NFL. Use of this ticket in violation of any law is strictly prohibited and will result in seizure, revocation and/or forfeiture of this license without refund.

—  https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/2020-2021-regular-season-ticketback-terms

A handful of teams have already determined that the risk is too high to hold games in front of fans.

The Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and New York Giants have all decided not to have fans in the stands this season. The Washington Football Team announced this week that it will also not have fans in attendance at home games, the NFL reported.

Cox Media Group