The year 2020 was one of upheaval, confusion, and pain, not just for society at large, but for the world of sports as well. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the cracks in an industry that often revolves around profit and spectacle, with very little regard for the well-being of the athletes, the workers, or the fans who drive it. From the sudden suspension of leagues to the eventual return of competitions in “bubbles” or empty stadiums, 2020 was a year where sports were caught between the need for entertainment and the reality of a global health crisis. Yet, as we reflect on the pandemic’s devastating impact, it is worth asking a difficult question: should sports have stopped altogether in 2020?

In hindsight, it’s clear that the pandemic revealed a deeply flawed system within professional sports, one that placed economic priorities over public health and well-being. What should have been a year of reflection on the role of sport in society instead became one of scrambling to find ways to keep the games going, often at the expense of athletes’ physical and mental health. Let’s examine why 2020 might have been the year that sports should have stopped and what lessons we can take away from that fateful decision.

The Initial Shock: A Sudden Pause in Sports

In March 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic began to spread across the globe, the sports world ground to a halt. Major leagues, including the NBA, MLB, NHL, and NCAA, were all forced to suspend their seasons in response to government lockdowns, quarantine measures, and the sheer uncertainty surrounding the virus. This suspension, though jarring, was ultimately a responsible decision, as many recognized the health risks associated with large gatherings and the potential for the virus to spread quickly among athletes, staff, and fans.

For those who make a living off of sports, it was a massive blow. The economic ramifications were immediately felt as billions of dollars in television deals, ticket sales, and sponsorships went on hold. Yet, while sports leagues and franchises focused on ways to recoup these losses, many failed to consider the larger ethical implications of trying to resume play during a global pandemic. For all the talk about sports being an essential service or offering an escape from the chaos of the outside world, the reality was much more complicated.

Athletes, particularly in contact sports like basketball and football, were now faced with the challenge of playing in a highly contagious environment. Though many leagues implemented stringent safety protocols, the very nature of the pandemic—the uncertainty, the evolving science, the rapid spread of the virus—meant that the risks were always present. For some, the decision to return to play was driven less by concern for public health and more by financial necessity.

The Return of Sports: An Unsettling Necessity

Despite the suspension, the world’s major sports leagues eventually returned to action, but not without significant changes. The NBA, for example, created a “bubble” in Orlando, Florida, to protect its players and staff, isolating them from the outside world and instituting frequent testing. The NHL followed suit with similar measures, using hubs in Canada to finish its season and crown the Stanley Cup champion. Meanwhile, Major League Baseball restarted its season with a truncated schedule, while the NFL forged ahead with its own plans, albeit with significant disruptions due to outbreaks within teams.

In soccer, leagues across Europe began to play again in empty stadiums, with matches taking place in front of no spectators. While these efforts to resume competition were celebrated by fans who had longed for a return to normalcy, they also drew attention to the darker side of sports in a pandemic. Was it truly worth putting athletes and coaches at risk to continue the season? Was it ethical to prioritize television deals and sponsorships over the health of those involved?

At a time when global economies were grinding to a halt and millions were grappling with unemployment, illness, and social isolation, the decision to bring sports back appeared out of touch with the realities that most people were facing. For many athletes, the decision to play meant not only putting their own health on the line but also risking the safety of their families and loved ones. Even as testing and bubble environments became the norm, the toll on athletes—mentally, emotionally, and physically—was immense.

The Mental and Physical Toll on Athletes

One of the most overlooked aspects of the pandemic’s impact on sports was the mental and physical toll on athletes. While the physical risks of COVID-19 were obvious, the psychological strain of playing in a bio-secure bubble or without fans in the stands was just as significant. For many athletes, the experience of being isolated from their families, friends, and support systems led to mental health struggles, including anxiety and depression.

The idea of sports as a form of escape or entertainment became increasingly difficult to justify as athletes were forced to live in isolation, away from the comforts and normalcy of their lives. The absence of fans in the stands—a key part of the spectacle of sports—also created a dissonance for players, who often feed off the energy and support of the crowd. Many athletes described the eerie emptiness of playing in front of empty arenas, where the atmosphere was starkly different from the high-intensity games they were used to.

Moreover, there were instances where the pressure to perform amidst the pandemic led to severe burnout and injury. In many sports, schedules were compressed as leagues attempted to finish their seasons as quickly as possible. This led to an increase in injuries and fatigue, with players being asked to perform at an elite level without the usual rest periods that are part of a standard season. This grueling schedule further exacerbated the strain on athletes, many of whom were already grappling with the psychological effects of the pandemic.

Financial Pressures and the Inhumane Side of Sports

The push to resume sports, despite the clear health risks, can also be seen through the lens of financial necessity. Sports are a multibillion-dollar industry, and for many franchises and leagues, halting play wasn’t an option. As the pandemic halted ticket sales, sponsorships, and other revenue-generating activities, the pressure to return to play grew stronger.

For example, the National Football League (NFL) pushed ahead with its season despite the uncertainties surrounding the pandemic. The economic pressure to maintain the flow of television deals, advertising, and ticket sales weighed heavily on the league’s decisions. Similarly, the English Premier League and La Liga in Spain made adjustments to accommodate television broadcasts and closed-door matches, often at the expense of the safety of players and staff. The economic interests of the sport appeared to dominate the narrative, overshadowing the health and safety concerns that were still paramount.

While many players and coaches expressed concerns about the risks involved, the financial stakes were simply too high. In many cases, decisions about when and how to resume play were influenced more by money than by a genuine concern for the well-being of athletes or the general public. In this sense, 2020 highlighted the inherent contradictions in the world of professional sports, where the spectacle of the game is often prioritized over the humanity of those who play it.

The Call for a More Ethical and Human-Centered Approach

As 2020 unfolded and the pandemic continued to wreak havoc, it became evident that sports, as they were currently structured, could no longer exist in the same way. For years, sports have been a huge source of entertainment and distraction, but in the wake of COVID-19, they also became a symbol of societal imbalance. The prioritization of entertainment over health, the increasing financial pressures on athletes and teams, and the glaring inequities that were laid bare by the pandemic all pointed to a need for change.

2020 showed that, in times of crisis, sports should not be viewed as essential, but rather as a luxury—one that should be considered only when the health and well-being of all involved are assured. The pursuit of profit should not come at the expense of people’s lives. Instead of pushing forward with seasons that placed players and fans at risk, it might have been more ethical for sports to stop altogether. This would have allowed the industry to pause, reflect, and reset for a more sustainable and humane future.

The sports world must learn from 2020. Going forward, we need to rethink the way we value athletes—not just as entertainers, but as human beings deserving of respect, care, and dignity. Sports should be a space where athletes’ physical and mental health are prioritized, where their labor is valued beyond the bottom line, and where entertainment is balanced with ethical considerations.

Conclusion: A Year for Reflection and Change

While the return of sports in 2020 provided some much-needed entertainment in an otherwise bleak year, it came with significant costs. From the financial pressures that led to rushed returns to the psychological toll on athletes, it is clear that the sports world could have benefited from taking a step back and reassessing its priorities. In hindsight, 2020 was the year that should have been different—the year sports should have stopped to protect the health of everyone involved.

In the aftermath of this tumultuous year, the sports industry has a responsibility to rebuild in a way that places the well-being of athletes, staff, and fans at the forefront. The lessons of 2020 must not be forgotten, as we look toward a future where the human side of sports takes precedence over profit and spectacle. For all the joy that sports can bring, the pandemic has reminded us that there are greater priorities in life than a game—and when the stakes are this high, sometimes it’s okay to stop.