The Big Ten are several domes as venues for a possible football season that will begin in early 2021, as the Columbus Dispatch learned.
Amanda Babb, president of the Ohio State Football Padres Group, said in an interview Wednesday that she had heard that indoor stadiums in Indianapolis, St. Louis, Detroit, Minneapolis and in all likelihood Syracuse, New York, were being like sites. Games are not expected to be played on campus on the proposed schedule, which may begin in January.
Later Wednesday, Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith showed the plan, texting “Yes and Others” when asked about those sites. He refused to upload details.
Big Ten announced on August 11 that it would not do fall sports because of the coronavirus pandemic. The convention said it would be the option of a season in early 2021, although it did not provide any details.
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In an August 19 statement, Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said a race would be formed for a winter/spring season. It included the new president of the state of Ohio, Dr. Kristina Johnson.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day has been a staunch supporter of a winter replacement season that begins in early January, which began in the spring. The later the season, the less time will elapse between the season and the normal fall season.
Elite players with professional football aspirations are also more likely to play in a season that began in January than in the spring. The NFL draft is scheduled for April and more sensitive professional customers are likely to decide to prepare for the draft instead of playing a spring school season.
Playing in domes would be one of the major disruptions similar to the winter season, especially in northern and north-peak Schools of Big Ten, adding Minnesota and Wisconsin.