There was something weird about watching this year's Australian Open. The matches were played in front of good-sized crowds. Players had actual fans cheering for them--not cardboard cutouts--and it wasn't silent. It was almost normal. At least, what used to be normal.
That's one of the craziest things about the last year. We've gotten so used to things that we never thought we'd see. Players and coaches wearing masks, empty stadiums and ads covering stands have become common sights. So have socially-distanced celebrations and schedules and personal locker rooms, anything to avoid physical contact and keep everybody separated. Ditto with Zoom interviews and broadcasters not actually at the game.
When sports first came back over the summer, we all wondered how it was going to work. How would they make a broadcast work with all the restrictions that they'd have to follow? Would they still be able to create any sort of gameday atmosphere without fans physically there? Even as a made-for-TV event, would it work?
Now, we've gotten so used to these things that we barely remember what it was like pre-COVID. In fact, I think some of these changes may end up becoming permanent. They were forced into the situation, but it showed that broadcasting a game under such circumstances was possible. And if they discovered something that worked in the process, why not stick with it?
Of course, we all want and expect things to go back to "normal" eventually. It's no fun for anybody to have being played under all these restrictions in front of little to no fans. But right now, fans are just grateful to have events to watch and athletes are just grateful to events to play in.
Here's the crazy thing, though: it'll be just as jarring when it does. As weird as it was at first, we've been seeing these socially-distanced, made-for-TV, bubble games for so long now that they no longer seem strange. And when things change back, the opposite will be true. It'll, again, take some getting used to. What was once so normal will suddenly seem so strange.
The Australian Open is a perfect example. Fans were allowed, up to 30,000 per day. That's a significantly smaller number than they'd normally have, but it was still much larger than any other crowd anywhere else in the world in recent months. Restrictions were in place, of course, but people were there and some matches felt (and sounded like) you would've expected anytime prior to March 2020. It was all so "normal."
This was only possible because the event took place in Australia. Australia has handled the virus remarkably well to the point where they have virtually no transmission. Part of the reason for that is their isolation, of course, but it's also because of the measures they've put in place. Every player was forced to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival in the country. Some even had to go into a "hard" quarantine because of an infected person on their flight. But the result was being able to play an event that felt as close to the old definition of "normal" as possible.
It wasn't all smooth sailing, either. They went into a five-day hard lockdown mid-tournament because of a suspected case at the Melbourne airport hotel. It went into effect at 11:59 pm, so the fans were forced to leave in the middle of a Novak Djokovic match that went past midnight. Fortunately, the lockdown didn't have to go past the five days and they were able to welcome crowds again for the semifinals and finals.
And wasn't that a refreshing sight?! It was both a reminder of what things used to be and a sign of hope for what they can be again. It's what we all want. People in the stands cheering and creating an atmosphere that can't be replicated. Instead of cardboard cutouts, ads and giant video boards, it was actual fans and an environment that actually looked and felt like a major sporting event.
Which, of course, leaves us wondering when other major sporting events will look and feel like it again. We're on our way back. More and more places are opening up and allowing fans back in stadiums. Those numbers are gradually increasing, as well. Major League Baseball is expecting to start the season with fans, and the NCAA Tournament will be allowing 25 percent capacity. But we're still many months away from full houses. And it'll probably be even longer until things are completely "normal."
"Normal" may seem a long way off. Especially when we see the Australian Open being played in front of so many people. But the Australian Open is still an encouraging sign. It reminded us of how great it is when fans are there and left us longing for those days to return. In fact, if anything, it has increased that desire. Our appreciation for attending live sports has only grown after a year away.
Things can be like that again, too. We just have to make it through a few more months. Will it be different when we return? Yes. Will we have to wear masks and socially distance and test negative before we can even enter the facility? Most likely. But it won't be forever. And if we have to do those things to start attending games again, so be it.
Life will get back to normal eventually, and games will be played in full stadiums again. We don't know when that'll happen, but we do know that it will. The Australian Open gave us a little taste of what our lives used to be and what we hope they'll be again. And it was a glorious sight!
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