After a 2020 season dramatically impacted by COVID-19, the NFL announced starting dates for training camp which includes fans in attendance.
For the Cleveland Browns, that means the return of some of the most passionate fans in the entire league. The team usually sells out most, if not all, of their training camp dates and welcome in a raucous crowd.
After missing 2020 training camp and the Browns making the NFL playoffs, expect the fan base to show up in full force in Berea. Expectations are through the roof especially after the offseason of adding significant talent to an undermanned defense.
According to the NFL release, 29 teams will open training camp on the same date while the three others can start early due to playing in the Hall of Fame game and Thursday Night Football openers. Fans will be able to attend shortly after the opening of camps:
In a first for the league, clubs will begin training camp in unison with 29 squads set to report on Tuesday, July 27 — which is 47 days prior to Sunday of Week 1 of the regular season, as allowed by the collective bargaining agreement. Plans for fan events and league-wide practices are set to follow on Saturday, July 31, Pelissero added.
Currently, 30 of the 32 teams have state and local approval for 100% capacity in their stadiums for games this year. Indianapolis and Denver are expected to get approval as well creating uniformity across the league.
For teams, the increased revenue of fans in the building should help push the salary cap back up while also creating the game-day experience to help the home teams. For players, the fan energy was missed in 2020 while fans get a chance to cheer on their teams for the first time in large NFL group gatherings since the pandemic struck.
Stay tuned for more details as they come out.
