The COVID pandemic is over (according to American sports)

Tyler LaulettaMay 29, 2021, 20:54 IST

Fans of the New York Knicks take in Game 1 against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden.Seth Wenig - Pool/Getty Images

At the PGA Championship, fans rushed Phil Mickelson as he was about to win his sixth major.
In NBA and NHL arenas, fans packed inside stadiums to cheer their teams on in the playoffs.
15 months after an NBA game brought the world to a halt, American sports have decided COVID is over.

This week, American sports and their fans sent a clear message to those watching at home: COVID is over.

Nearly 15 months ago, the entire sports world was brought to a sudden halt after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The NBA shut down, and other sports leagues across the country soon followed. The Olympics, Masters, and Kentucky Derby were all delayed, set to be contested at some undetermined time in the future.

Eventually, sports came back. First in bubbles, then in stadiums without fans, and as our pandemic year crawled along, fans were at least able to follow along with the action at home.

As the US began administering vaccines by the million, things began to open up again in the sports world until this week. That is when sports fans were allowed to fill stadiums and events once again, sending a signal flare to those watching on television that normalcy was closer than ever.

The COVID-19 pandemic is still wreaking havoc. But in the American sporting world, fans are back, and they are loud.

At the PGA Championship on Sunday, fans were out in full force to support Phil Mickelson as he attempted to become the oldest major-winner in golf history.

AP Photo/Chris Carlson

When Mickelson was set to finish his win on the 18th hole, fans followed him into the fairway and surrounded the green for his championship putts.

Maddie Meyer/PGA of America/PGA of America via Getty Image

The scene was fit for a movie.

But while golf brought big crowds out to the course, no arena was more intense this week than Madison Square Garden.

Fans of the New York Knicks take in Game 1 against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden. Seth Wenig - Pool/Getty Images

The Garden was loud, with the Knicks playing postseason basketball for the first time since 2013.

Elsa/Getty Images

The return of crowds also allowed for some back-and-forth between the fans and opposing players, and Hawks guard Trae Young was quick to silence the Knicks faithful.

But a few nights later, Knicks fans were back at the Garden, chanting "F--- Trae Young" and cheering on their team as they tied the series 1-1.

Approximately 15,000 fans attended each of those two Knicks games, but watching them spill outside the Garden after a win, it felt like more.

As the playoffs move forward, more teams across the league are set to welcome greater and greater numbers of fans back into the arena, with the exact capacity varying from team to team.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

As the playoffs move forward, more teams across the league are set to welcome greater and greater numbers of fans back into the arena, with the exact capacity varying from team to team.

American NHL fans were also out in full support of their teams this week. The Carolina Hurricanes had a packed house for their Game 5 win over the Nashville Predators.

Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images

After a full season away from the arena, it was good to be back.

Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images

When the series returned to Nashville, Preds fans took part in their "Smashville" tradition, wailing on a car decorated with the colors of the enemy.

John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images

Despite being eliminated after a loss in Game 6, the Predators still received a warm reception from their fans.

John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images

Meanwhile, Islanders fans sang along to Billy Joel outside the stadium after their series win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

While American fans are back in arenas, Canadian hockey fans have had to wait to get the chance to see their favorite teams in action.

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

That's set to change this weekend though, with the Montreal Canadiens set to allow roughly 2,500 fans to attend Game 6 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

That's set to change this weekend though, with the Montreal Canadiens set to allow roughly 2,500 fans to attend Game 6 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

In reality, COVID is far from over, and many big sporting events, including the Tokyo Olympics, are still in jeopardy of cancellation.

Hiro Komae/AP Images

But at American stadiums this week, it started to feel like sports were finally back.

Elsa/POOL PHOTOS-USA TODAY Sports

Manchester City vs Chelsea ‒ UEFA Champions League final

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The COVID pandemic is over (according to American sports)

At the PGA Championship on Sunday, fans were out in full force to support Phil Mickelson as he attempted to become the oldest major-winner in golf history.

When Mickelson was set to finish his win on the 18th hole, fans followed him into the fairway and surrounded the green for his championship putts.

The scene was fit for a movie.

But while golf brought big crowds out to the course, no arena was more intense this week than Madison Square Garden.

The Garden was loud, with the Knicks playing postseason basketball for the first time since 2013.

The return of crowds also allowed for some back-and-forth between the fans and opposing players, and Hawks guard Trae Young was quick to silence the Knicks faithful.

But a few nights later, Knicks fans were back at the Garden, chanting "F--- Trae Young" and cheering on their team as they tied the series 1-1.

Approximately 15,000 fans attended each of those two Knicks games, but watching them spill outside the Garden after a win, it felt like more.

As the playoffs move forward, more teams across the league are set to welcome greater and greater numbers of fans back into the arena, with the exact capacity varying from team to team.

American NHL fans were also out in full support of their teams this week. The Carolina Hurricanes had a packed house for their Game 5 win over the Nashville Predators.

After a full season away from the arena, it was good to be back.

When the series returned to Nashville, Preds fans took part in their "Smashville" tradition, wailing on a car decorated with the colors of the enemy.

Despite being eliminated after a loss in Game 6, the Predators still received a warm reception from their fans.

Meanwhile, Islanders fans sang along to Billy Joel outside the stadium after their series win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

While American fans are back in arenas, Canadian hockey fans have had to wait to get the chance to see their favorite teams in action.

That's set to change this weekend though, with the Montreal Canadiens set to allow roughly 2,500 fans to attend Game 6 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

In reality, COVID is far from over, and many big sporting events, including the Tokyo Olympics, are still in jeopardy of cancellation.

But at American stadiums this week, it started to feel like sports were finally back.