With kickoff nearly a month away, the NFL considers the use of virtual fans in stadiums a viable option for game days, a league source said Thursday.
The NFL utilized the practice during the virtual draft in April and has a similar template available in the absence of real fans. The NBA has found success with a similar model for its game action in its bubble on the Walt Disney World Resort campus in Florida.
The league must get creative because of the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. The Las Vegas Raiders have announced that no fans will attend home games for the inaugural season in Allegiant Stadium, and fans will not be permitted in several other stadiums across the league under current conditions.