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Florida’s Ron DeSantis became the second governor in as many days to announce that his state is open to professional sports teams that want to resume activity.

“All professional sports are welcome here for practicing and for playing,” DeSantis said at a news conference Wednesday in Tallahassee, Fla.

“What I would tell commissioners of leagues is, if you have a team in an area where they just won’t let them operate, we’ll find a place for you here in the state of Florida.”



Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced Tuesday that professional sports, including Major League Baseball as well as the NBA, NHL and NFL, may resume in the state on Saturday, provided that CDC guidelines are followed with respect to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Ducey’s announcement came on the same day that Los Angeles County’s public health director, Barbara Ferrer, said that the local stay-at-home order likely will be extended through July.

Multiple media outlets reported that MLB looked at spring training sites in Florida and Arizona as possible regular-season venues, with Texas also coming under consideration. However, more recent reports indicated that MLB would prefer a plan that has teams playing in their regular-season homes.

Florida, which allowed WWE and UFC events to take place in the state without fans, also has emerged as a potential location to host a 26-team Major League Soccer tournament in Orlando.

In addition, the golf event labeled as “The Match: Champions for Charity” involving Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning is slated for Hobe Sound on May 24. Organizers have pledged to raise $10 million for COVID-19 relief, and the event will be played without fans in attendance.



–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)