Keep those plans for that early-August two-hour drive northwest, Pittsburgh.
For now.
The preseason-opening Hall of Fame Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys is still on, a spokesperson for the Pro Football Hall of Fame said Thursday in an email to the Tribune-Review. As it has been every year in recent decades, the Aug. 6 game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, is the first football game of the 2020 season.
“As of today, the Hall is proceeding with the game going forward as scheduled,” Hall of Fame vice president of communications and public relations Rich Desrosiers wrote.
The NFL remains the only North American major sports league — and perhaps the only major sports league in the world — to have avoided a game or match postponement during the coronavirus pandemic. The NHL, NBA, MLS and MLB all have postponed games, many of which are believed to be canceled.
The NFL has the benefit of time because its regular season does not begin until September. It proceeded through free agency as normal, and its draft is being held on its scheduled dates (April 23-25), albeit remotely via video and not with any people gathered in one spot.
The @steelers will take on the @dallascowboys in the 2020 HOF Game! A look at the careers of 2020 members @CowherCBS and @JimmyJohnson, who will be formally enshrined this August. #PFHOF20 pic.twitter.com/ux1vk0Egxv
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) March 10, 2020
The Hall of Fame Game is held in conjunction with annual induction ceremonies scheduled for Aug. 8. Among the 10 members to be enshrined that day are former Steelers coach Bill Cowher and former safety Troy Polamalu. (Former Steelers safety Donnie Shell joins nine other players who will be inducted as part of a special “Centennial Class” in September).
Former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson is also part of the August inductees. The combination of the high-profile Steelers and Cowboys members of the class contributed to their selection for the annual game.
Tickets for the game at the 23,000-seat facility are sold out.
“The Pro Football Hall of Fame is planning on kicking off the NFL’s season in Canton on August 6th at the Hall of Fame Game with a full and safe schedule of Enshrinement activities for the best four days in football,” Pro Football Hall of Fame president and CEO David Baker said in a statement. “If the NFL season is delayed for any reason, we will adapt accordingly.”
Class of 2020 Enshrinee @tpolamalu shares what the city of Pittsburgh means to him and the fond memories he has from his career.#PFHOF20 | @steelers pic.twitter.com/aaFULx5TUl
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) February 25, 2020
The most optimistic hopes for a return of sports seem to target early- to mid-summer. NFL training camps typically open in late July (the Steelers and Cowboys would be be permitted, by rule, to open practice July 23).
But organized team activities are being delayed, suggesting the window is closing rapidly for an opportunity to get players in shape in time for game play by August — and that assumes government social-distancing mandates would allow for the game to be played by then.
Because of their proximity to Canton and their reputation for traveling, the expected mass visits of Steelers fans to the Hall of Fame would make a significant impact on the local economy.
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