Cardinals’ 1st 2 home games to be played without fans in attendance

For the first three weeks of the 2020 season, the Arizona Cardinals will play in front of an empty stadium.

The Cardinals announced Friday they will have no fans in attendance for the team’s home opener on Sept. 20 against the Washington Football Team as well as their Week 3 matchup on Sept. 27 against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium.

“While we would obviously love to start the season in front of the Red Sea, we know this decision is the most responsible one and hopefully contributes to the continued decline of COVID-19 in our community,” The team said on Twitter.

Though the first two games fall under state guidelines that currently restrict large gatherings, the Cardinals have not ruled out having fans back in State Farm Stadium this season.

The decision marks the third straight week of no fans for the Cardinals after the San Francisco 49ers announced they would not allow fans in their Sept. 13 home opener against Arizona.

“I’m hopeful that as the season progresses that more and more fans will be allowed to come to games and we can try to get some normalcy in those stadiums,” head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters last week. “That obviously remains to be seen.

“You obviously want fans. I know our players want fans, our coaches want fans, but it is what it is.”

Playing in front of no fans could potentially continue for the Cardinals as they navigate the first portion of their schedule.

The Cardinals’ Week 4 opponent, the Carolina Panthers, are still in talks with state officials on whether they will have fans at their stadium. The New York Jets, Arizona’s Week 5 matchup, will not have fans until further notice.

The first sign of potential life the Cardinals might see in the stands could come as late as Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have decided to allow fans into Dallas home games in a “limited capacity.”

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