Despite Challenges, NFL, NBA Continue To Support Voters, Voting Initiatives
Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 04:39PM By Barry Janoff
October 6, 2020: The NFL said today that 16 of its teams to date will be utilizing their facilities for election-related activities, including voter registration, ballot drop-off and/or polling.
The league recently launched a “NFL Votes” initiative — a league-wide, non-partisan platform to “support and encourage the civic engagement and voting of NFL players, Legends, club and league personnel, and NFL fans from now until Election Day.”
In addition, in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, the NFL launched a campaign, ”Latinos Vote" for Latino fans.
"According to the Pew Research Center, the 2020 election will mark the first time that Latinos will be the largest racial and ethnic minority group in the electorate," Javier Farfan, NFL cultural marketing strategist, said via the league.
"Speaking directly with our Latino fans continues to be an important part of our strategy and Latinos Vote is the latest example of that."
The Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Sparks, Staples Center, AEG and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk said this week that Staples Center would expand its commitment to serve as a Vote Center in the upcoming Presidential General Election to 11 days, the maximum number of days the County will facilitate in-person voting.
Voters can cast their ballots at Staples Center Oct. 24 through Election Day, Nov. 3.
Staples Center will also serve as a Vote by Mail Drop Box location for those who prefer to drop off their completed ballots in official, secure drop boxes provided by the L.A. County Registrar's office.
As are other voting initiatives and platforms, the Staples Center Vote Center is also supported by More Than A Vote, the national voting advocacy group founded by LeBron James and other athletes and celebrities, dedicated to “combating systemic, racist voter suppression by educating, energizing, and protecting their community in 2020.”
Chris Paul, president of the National Basketball Players Assn., said more than 90% of eligible NBA players are registered to vote, with more registering. "I'm so proud of our guys,” Paul told ABC Sports.
“Fifteen teams are 100% registered. The bubble has been an unbelievable blessing. Our players continue to do the work, and we're grateful and we'll keep working."
However, AP Sports reported that local election officials today said they “scrapped their plans to use the Milwaukee Bucks and Brewers’ stadiums as early voting sites in the presidential battleground state of Wisconsin.”
According to AP Sports, “Milwaukee’s election commission had planned to use Fiserv Forum and Miller Park between Oct. 20 and Nov. 1 as sites where people could have voted early in-person or returned absentee ballots they received by mail. The commission developed the plan in an effort to provide safe voting sites during the coronavirus pandemic.
“But the commission’s executive director, Claire Woodall-Vogg, said Tuesday that the plans were shelved because a recent court ruling could open the door to legal challenges,” with AP Sports adding “It’s unclear which court ruling Woodall-Vogg was referring to."
“While we were excited to welcome voters to Fiserv Forum to cast their ballots in a safe and accessible way, we remain just as committed to encouraging and educating people to vote and making our voices heard in this election,” the Bucks said in via the team.
Last month, officials in Miami-Dade County decided not to use AmericanAirlines Arena, home to the Heat, as a voting destination, with local authorities instead opting for nearby, but much smaller, Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, located about a half mile north of the Arena.
The Arena is owned by Miami-Dade County.
The list of NFL teams (to date) offering stadiums for voting destinations includes
• Arizona Cardinals
State Farm Stadium
Ballot Drop-Off Site
• Atlanta Falcons
Home Depot Backyard at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Voter Registration Site
• Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium
Polling Site
• Detroit Lions
Ford Field
Election Support Site
• Green Bay Packers
Johnsville Tailgate Village at Lambeau Field
Polling Site
• Houston Texans
NRG Park
Polling Site, Election Support Site
• Indianapolis Colts
Lucas Oil Stadium
Polling Site
• Jacksonville Jaguars
TIAA Bank Stadium
Ballot Drop-Off Site
• Kansas City Chiefs
Arrowhead Stadium
Polling Site, Voter Registration Site
• Los Angeles Chargers/Rams
Hollywood Park at SoFi Stadium
Polling Site, Voter Registration Site
• Philadelphia Eagles
Lincoln Financial Field
Voter Registration Site, Ballot Drop-Off Site, Election Support Site (Pending a court ruling)
• San Francisco 49ers
Levi's Stadium
Voter Registration Site, Polling Site, Ballot Drop-Off Site
• Seattle Seahawks
CenturyLink Field
Voter Registration Site, Ballot Drop-Off Site, Election Support Site
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Raymond James Stadium
Polling Site, Ballot Drop-Off Site
• Washington Football Team
FedEx Field
Polling Site, Voter Registration Site
Leagues Expand Voting Social Platforms For 2020 Election
MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL Bolster Voting Process
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