College Football
There is no room for negotiation on one key point as Atlanta organizers consider multiple contingency plans for three season-opening games during the coronavirus pandemic: Without fans, the games can’t be played in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl president Gary Stokan, whose organization is making plans for the Florida State-West Virginia, Georgia-Virginia and North Carolina-Auburn kickoff games, says fans must be allowed for the games to be played at the neutral site.
The San Jose Mercury News reports the PAC-12 is moving forward with plans of a 10 game conference schedule, with the announcement expected no later than the end of next week. The schedule would begin in mid-September, with the championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on one of three December dates depending on whether the schedule changes due to Covid-19.
NFL
The NFL team formerly known as the Redskins will go by the Washington Football Team for the 2020 season, giving the organization time to choose a new, full-time name. The club announced the placeholder name today, ahead of the start of training camp next week. Washington will keep its burgundy and gold colors and replace the Indian head logo on helmets with a player’s jersey number.
NHL
The NHL’s newest team finally has its name: the Seattle Kraken. The expansion franchise unveiled its nickname today, ending 19 months of speculation about whether the team might lean traditional or go eccentric with the name for the league’s 32nd team. The team begins play in the 2021-22 season.
Golf
Already a new mom, Michelle Wie West now has another new job. She was appointed today to be one of Pat Hurst’s assistant captains for the Solheim Cup next year. Asked about playing at Inverness Club in Toledo, OH for the September 4-6 matches next year, Wie West said that would depend on Hurst and how much Wie West was even playing. Her last appearance was at the Women’s PGA at Hazeltine a year ago.
Officials with the LPGA Tour’s NWA Championship announced today the tournament will be played with no spectators due to Covid-19 concerns. The tournament is scheduled for August 28-30 in Rogers, Arkansas.