If the NHL is going to come back before July, it appears it will have to do so without playing games in Toronto.
Tuesday, Toronto mayor John Tory announced that all city events and event permits are canceled through June 30 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
BREAKING: Toronto cancelling all city events, event permits up to June 30 amid #COVID19, Mayor John Tory announces.
— Lauren Pelley (@LaurenPelley) March 31, 2020
The announcement could mean that the NHL may not be able to restart its 2019-20 season until July or that games in Toronto have to be played somewhere else.
The "pause" has only just begun. https://t.co/ntAmnQ0hrY
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 31, 2020
Now that's something. https://t.co/5yPkA4Fk9o
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 31, 2020
Earlier Tuesday, the NHL announced it had extended its self-quarantining period through April 15.
Significant impact on daily life, MLB included. https://t.co/DJxDwgSj79
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 31, 2020
The MLB and NBA seasons could be affected by Toronto’s events ban too.
It’s becoming very clear that sports leagues themselves aren’t going to be in the position to decide whether they play or not. The city, state, province and country will make that decision for them.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 31, 2020
Update: Mayor Tory’s office says that this ban technically does not include sporting events.
Clarification from Mayor Tory’s office..
This ban DOES NOT include sporting events. City events and event permits only. https://t.co/gQhm6iQKvo
— OverDrive (@OverDrive1050) March 31, 2020
Mike Wise had this to say about that clarification.
Hold on. Toronto is banning "public events" but not "sporting events." Public and sporting events is redundant, right? I don't understand — unless, like, the Mayor's office wants to ensure the Raptors get to defend their NBA title while the rest of the city is on lockdown. https://t.co/d0wNVnFqR2
— Mike Wise (@MikeWiseguy) March 31, 2020
