The NHL’s “ideal timeline” would have the Stanley Cup awarded in early October; NASCAR has set its race schedule through early August. Plus: MLB will reportedly bar local announcers from road games this year, and Formula 1 has set its restart for July 5.
NHL reportedly sees October 8 as latest possible date
The NHL believes that October 8 is the latest it can conclude the Stanley Cup Final, The Athletic reported Thursday. Under the league’s “ideal timeline,” the season would resume in late July or early August and the 16-team portion of the postseason would begin by mid-August.
The NHL announced last month that it will resume its season with an expanded 24-team playoffs. On Thursday, the league and players association agreed that the new opening round will be best-of-five and the four traditional rounds best-of-seven. [The Athletic 6.4; ESPN.com 6.4]
NASCAR sets race schedule through early August
NASCAR announced its revised schedule through early August on Thursday. As was the case in its original schedule, the Cup Series will head to Pocono for a doubleheader on June 27-28 and Indianapolis on July 5. It will then head to Kentucky July 12, one day later than the original date.
Kentucky will be followed by a midweek stop in Charlotte for the annual All-Star Race July 15. The series then heads to Texas July 18, Kansas July 23 and New Hampshire August 2. Those races were originally set for March 29, May 31 and July 19.
Fox Sports will continue airing Cup and Xfinity Series races through the All-Star Race. NBC Sports will make its season debut at Indianapolis before taking over fully at Texas. [NASCAR.com 6.4]
MLB to bar local announcers from road games
Major League Baseball will not permit local broadcasters to travel to road games this season, according to Chicago radio host Bruce Levine and USA Today. Local announcers will instead be expected to call games remotely from their home cities.
Per USA Today, MLB could relent on its edict if conditions warrant. It is still unclear whether MLB will be able to stage a season at all. [USA Today 6.4; Levine/Twitter 6.4]
F1 sets restart for July 5
Formula 1 announced this week that its season is set to begin with the Austrian Grand Prix July 5, one of eight events scheduled through September. The circuit would remain in Austria the following week and then head to Hungary (July 19), Great Britain twice (August 2 and 9), Spain (August 16), Belgium (August 30) and Italy (September 6).
F1 plans to run 15-18 races through December. [F1 6.2]
