Public officials in California insistthatsports teams(profe sional and college) will, at best, beplaying in empty venuesin the state when they return from their coronavirus-related hiatuses. Based on how leagues are approaching their returns, however, those seemingly dire words won't be much of a bother.California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti both stated this week thatma s gatherings, which obviously include sporting events, would not return to the state or city until there is at least avaccine for COVID-19andresidents have acquiredherd immunity. A vaccine isn't expected to be ready until next year, which is why Garcettiis prepared to ban large crowds in the city until 2021.MORE: "The science is Jerome Brown Jersey the science and public health officials have been very clear (that) we've got many, many miles to walk before we're going to be back in those environments," . "But I hope we can perhaps watch sporting events without audiences on TV."Newsom's timetable was shorter. He told reporters (per ) on Tuesday that ma s gatherings would be "unlikely" throughat least August.Thosestatements, as well as comments by officials inSanta Clara County, where the 49ers and Sharks play, sound ominous, but they may alreadybemoot because of what leagues and teams reportedly are doing as they prepare to return to work:MLB, the NBA and the NHL may not need to play in California until November or December. Baseball is looking at plans to play regular-season games at spring training complexes in Arizona and Florida beginning in early summer. Dr. Anthony Fauci, who heads the White House's coronavirus task force, said Wednesday the sport might be able to resume around July 4 under highly controlled conditions that would include self-isolation and extensive testing for COVID-19.One of the earliest plans for Shaun Bradley Jersey a revamped 2020 baseball season includeda neutral-site World Series at Dodger Stadium and either Angel Stadium or Petco Park if the Dodgers are playing in it. Those games would not happen until late November, based on previous reports.Faucialso also suggested that the NBA and NHLcouldresumeaction in similar"bubble" enviroments as baseball. Those leagues havebeen considering scenarios that include neutral sites outside California and playing well past their traditional June finishes.NHL commi sioner Gary Bettman that the league is "probably going to beplaying into the summer." If it completesthe remainder of the regular season and then conducts a full postseason --- one of several po sible scenarios --- then an August or September finish appears likely. If a full offseason follows (about Philadelphia Eagles T Shirts three months), then the 2020-21 season might not start untilearly winter.The NBA might follow a similar timetable if it resumes play. If, however,it does cancel the remainder of its season, then the2020-21 season could start on time in October. But what if the league decides to test out the idea of beginning its season on Christmas Day, an idea that's gaining traction in media?That could minimize conflicts with venues in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento.The NFL is considering big changes to its schedule. The (subscription required) that the NFL is discu sing a shorter season, moving or rescheduling games, and playing in empty or partially filled stadiums. Those plans could, in turn, keep the NFL playing in California in 2020. This would be a marked change; the league has expre sed optimism that it league could begin play in September in full stadiums."We will continue to plan for the season and will be prepared to adjust as nece sary, just as we have done with free agency, the draft, and now the offseason program," the NFL told the Post in a statement, .The league is down to three teams in the state after the Raiders' move to Las Vegas.The Rams and Chargers are scheduled to move into SoFi Stadium in Inglewood in August, and the Niners occupy Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. Garcetti's plan technically wouldn't apply to those teams, but Inglewood is in Los Angeles County, which has ordered residents to shelter in place.Santa Clara County Executive Officer Jeff Smith said last week () that Terrell Owens Jersey there might not be 49ers games until Thanksgiving.It's reasonable to speculate that the league is trying to figure out how to get around all of that andstay visible in the country's No. 2 TV market (Los Angeles).College football isn't ready to commit to an on-time start.FBS conference commi sioners informed Vice President Mike Pence in a conference call Wednesday ()that games won't be played until students are back oncampus."Our players are students. If we're not in college, we're not having contests," Big 12 commi sioner Bob Bowlsby said, per CBSSports' report. No one knows when all 130 FBS schools will be conducting cla ses at the same time.There are also rumors the NCAA might delay itsseason until February2021. Conditions could be much different then for the state's seven FBS schools (USC, UCLA, Cal, Stanford, Fresno State, San Diego State, San Jose State).MLS may follow the NBA and NHL's lead. The top U.S. soccer league likewise has been inactive since mid-March and Patrick Johnson Jersey doesn't know when it will resume. It has three California teams: LAFC, the LA Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes. Commi sioner Don Garber that empty stadiums, neutral-site matches and a new tournament format are all under consideration, as is a laterfinish to the MLS Cup playoffs."We might be playing further into the winter," Garber told Taylor Twellman, adding that, even with the risk ofbad weather, "we're going to have to push this season as far as we can so that we can crown a champion in 2020."