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TV money gives NFL leg up if fans can't fill team's coffers

DALLAS (AP) -- Timing favored the NFL over other major pro sports leagues in trying to figure out how to keep the coronavirus pandemic from wrecking the 2020 season.

America's most popular sport has another big advantage if the games are played: TV money.

While NFL owners could lose billions collectively with limited capacities in stadiums or no fans at all, the league is well-positioned financially because of lucrative media contracts approaching $10 billion in a full 2020 season.

And so far, the NFL is on pace to play games this fall.

''The NFL takes its position as America's sport, the nation's sport, very seriously,'' said Marc Ganis, co-founder of the Chicago-based consulting group Sportscorp and close observer of the pro sports business scene.