State of Florida Might've Just Cleared the Way to Host MLB Games During COVID-19 Pandemic

It's fair to say that the MLB didn't think the 2020 regular season would be put on freeze for as long as it's been when it first announced the postponement of Spring Training. However, the league has recently been making strides in an effort to resume play as soon as May.

The league and its players union have been negotiating proposals to play in Arizona and/or Florida at Spring Training sites. Temporarily relocating to Japan was even an idea thrown out there.

Well, the state of Florida's latest reassessment of the coronavirus crisis might have just cleared the way for it to host MLB games amid the pandemic.

Per a memo, Florida has deemed "employees at a professional sports and media production with a national audience -- including ... athletes, entertainers, production team, executive team, media team” and others as essential.
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) April 14, 2020

Per reports, Florida has labeled "employees at a professional sports and media production with a national audience" as essential. With the entire country on lockdown, only "essential" workers -- those who work in healthcare institutions, pharmacies, and grocery stores, etc. -- have been permitted to report to their jobs.

It sure sounds like Florida will be the first state to "reopen," for lack of a better term. So long as events are closed to the general pubic, it sounds like this has a real shot of becoming a reality.

I asked Cody McCloud, press secretary for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, if a UFC event or boxing match could be deemed essential. It could. McCloud: "The memo does not specify specific sports, as long as the event location is closed to the general public."
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) April 14, 2020

There's obviously A LOT to sort out here, but Florida is certainly laying the groundwork for the MLB to potentially resume play sooner than originally believed.

Stay tuned for updates on this development and what it means for baseball.