May 8th Ties Record For Consecutive Days Without Live Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The coronavirus pandemic continues to show us the unprecedented times that we are currently living in. May 8th, 2020, set a record that no sports fan wanted to see.

Friday marked the 58th consecutive day without a live sporting event being played from one of the four major sports in the NBA, MLB, NHL, and NFL.

The stretch of no live sports began back on March 12th. One day after Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert was diagnosed with the coronavirus.

It’s not common to see multiple days without one of the major sports being played. In fact, this drought without live sports is only the third stretch of days to eclipse the one week mark.

Longest Stretches without Live Sports

Here is the longest stretch of days without live sports being played.

• 58 days: Coronavirus pandemic (2020)
• 58 days: MLB strike (1981)
• 23 days: MLB strike (1994)
• 6 days: 9/11 terrorist attacks (2001)
• 6 days: End of NHL season and the start of MLB (1956)

What’s notable about the other droughts that extended longer than a week impacted one league, MLB. The other three were not in season. This drought without live sports is truly unchartered territory that hopefully ends sooner rather than later.

The MLB, NBA, and NHL would currently be in season right now. None of those leagues have announced a date as to when they will be returning. The NFL released its 2020 football schedule on Thursday. Regular season games will begin on September 10th. That’s 125 days away.

Coronavirus Resources

• Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing [email protected].
• What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
• What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
• Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
• The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
• Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?

How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at [email protected].