The onset of the Coronavirus has had an adverse effect on almost every aspect of our lives. Sports was one area that was highly affected, and the German Bundesliga was not immune. After a period of quarantine and a ban on social gatherings, sports activities resumed. The German Bundesliga specifically resumed in November 2020, as Germany was battling the pandemics second wave. The German administration decided that professional sports, including Bundesliga, will take part behind closed doors. The pandemic affected even how goods are delivered, with a majority opting for German food delivery services. Reviews sites such as reviewsbird.de can help you identify reputable companies delivering such services. Below is how Coronavirus affected Bundesliga.
Football was played but not as we know it
Since the covid-19 pandemic’s onset, Bundesliga was the first European league to resume play after the suspension occasioned by the pandemic. Before the first match Kicking off, the staff and players had been quarantined for a week and then severally tested for Coronavirus. When arriving for the match, players arrived in several buses to ensure they maintained the required social distance. Though the game was played normally, 30 balls were available throughout the game and had been adequately disinfected. Celebrations of goals entailed more of boot and fist-bumping and less of hugging. Any person who wasn’t playing was required to have a face mask, with only head coaches exempted to allow them to shout instructions to players. There were no fans to cheer, making it so quiet to the extent that those watching it on TV heard the sound of the ball as it was hit and could also hear the players talk with each other. The total number of individuals permitted into the ground was 213, and this included the medics and the media, and their temperature had first to be taken. For the substitutes, as a social distancing measure, they were required to sit in benches two meters apart and wear masks until they started to warm up. Players getting out of the pitch were given a mask.
Sports business model
Basically, sports leagues have three major streams of income. First are commercials which include advertising partnerships and sponsorship. The second is broadcasting, including media sales, and the third is match revenue, which comprises hospitality and ticketing. Professional sports leagues are similar to entertainment companies in that every team in a league is similar to a diverse channel. The teams have their employees, fan bases and identities, and the general fixtures and the rules used in the game are put in place by the leagues. Football is majorly reliant on income from broadcasting. With the Coronavirus, sports were momentarily suspended and even after the resumption, crowds were barred from spectating. This affects the business model of sports and even threatens to cut off all revenue coming from sports completely.
No trophy show, No beer showers
After Bayern Munich being crowned, for the 30th time, as the German champions, the Covid-19 hygiene measures subdued celebrations as they have been known traditionally. The rules state that only 100 persons are permitted into the interior zone, the substitutes bench and the pitch. This translates to the fact that club officials such as the chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who had been cleared to be in the stands, were later not allowed into the pitch. Also, in line with these rules, no family members or supporter was permitted into the pitch.
There’s also the traditional beer shower that Bayern has been used to. Under the current league regulations to contain covid-19, it is banned. Over the years, the trophy has been presented customarily at the city’s town hall in front of supporters; this was also cancelled. When it comes to celebrating as a group, the staff members and team were permitted to have celebrations together and were prior tested for covid-19 and worked together in contact for weeks. Family and friends weren’t allowed whatsoever.
Long-term effects
A look at the long-term effects, the sports league basic operating model does not seem like it’ll change much, especially with games resuming and the rolling out vaccines. Nonetheless, the pandemic affects how all sports operations, including Bundesliga, will be dependent on live audiences and TV broadcasting. Some transformational trends that are expected in sport due to the coronavirus include.
The pandemic has caused an increase in the consumption of media, which isn’t in alignment with traditional broadcast. This will most likely increase the adoption of direct-to-consumer marketing services in the distribution of sporting content. There will also be developing other more innovative models, such as the pricing model around live streaming.
In conclusion, with this article, the reader can understand how the Coronavirus affected Bundesliga and how the sports industry has been affected.
