World News – United States – Sports venues across the country at stake on Election Day

DETROIT (AP) – Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson voted at the Detroit Pistons training facility About 12 hours later, she saw metal boxes on wheels with ballots vote inside drive into Ford Field for double checking

« I am grateful to our sports partners in Detroit, » Benson said Tuesday night at the Lions home “They really paved the way for sports teams across the country to play a vital role in providing the resources we needed to run the elections successfully this year.

« This is something that I hope will continue in the years to come and really underlines the work that has been done today, which was truly a team effort »

The coronavirus pandemic has put stress on the general election, so professional sports teams have stepped up to offer their stadiums, arenas and training facilities as socially remote spaces to vote and lead. other election-related activities

More than 20 NBA teams and half of the 32 NFL franchises have allowed people to vote or have helped in the process in some other way. Meanwhile, many teams in Major League Baseball and NHL also put their stadiums and arenas on the line on election day

« This is a good time for sports teams across the country to commit to helping people vote because it is the most important non-violent tool in our democracy, » said Arn Tellem , Vice President of the Pistons, after him and Detroit coach Dwane Casey watched Benson drop his ballot into a drop box just steps from the entrance to the team’s training center. sports bring together people from all walks of life at their best, inspire us and encourage us to unite « 

Before returning to Sacramento, Calif. on Tuesday afternoon, Gov Gavin Newsom greeted and thanked the polling station officers for the Golden State Warriors installation in downtown Oakland

« Three things in the world that really bring people together: music, food and sports, » Warriors goalie Damion Lee said after beating Newsom in a ‘PIG’ shooter. « Let us use our platform, that the Warriors open their facilities – that’s the real meaning of democracy « 

For voters across the country, the opening of arenas and stadiums gave them another option to vote, sometimes faster It also gave the opportunity to enter some venues that have been relegated to the ‘organization of games without fans during the pandemic, if they have been busy since spring

« It’s a great idea, » said John Schmit outside the United Center in Chicago. « I’m a fan of the Blackhawks. I haven’t been here for six months »

Outside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, home of the NBA Cavaliers, the voting line wrapped around the glass exterior of the building early Tuesday By late morning, the pace had slowed considerably, but there was a constant flow of voters entering the stalls inside the large arena atriums to fill out the ballots

« It was nice to come here and see that it was actually being used for something worthwhile, » said Ian Crawford, a Cleveland resident, wearing an Indians cap, after leaving the house. ‘arena

Representative Rashida Tlaib, whose district includes parts of Detroit, recently said it was appropriate for taxpayer-funded sports facilities to play a role in the electoral process

At the Atlanta Hawks home, a pipe erupted early Tuesday morning in a room where absentee votes were being counted This resulted in treatment being stopped for about four hours at State Farm Arena

In Kansas City, Missouri, Chiefs coach Andy Reid voted in the same stadium he leads the defending Super Bowl champions when they host games Reid was among a dozen people in line to vote early Tuesday morning, shortly after the ballot box opens

“I think it’s great that they were able to do it here at the stadium,” said Reid. “There were a lot of things that had to go right to get there. A lot of it was about the players, everything first have a plan, then present it to management and property, then to the people in charge of property and management who were supporting it »

Former WNBA star Tamika Catchings arrived at Bankers’ Life Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Pacers and Fever, before sunrise on Tuesday The Fever chief executive was motivated by seeing so many people come out to vote for the first time

Washington Wizards guard Ish Smith and forward Admiral Schofield, coach Scott Brooks and general manager Tommy Sheppard, as well as Mystics forward Tianna Hawkins greeted voters outside the Capital One Arena

“Being able to create change in the building we work hard in is great to see,” said Schofield “We don’t just want to encourage the vote for this year; we want to encourage voting for years to come « 

AP Sports editors Janie McCauley in Oakland, Andrew Seligman in Chicago, Tom Withers in Cleveland, Dave Skretta in Kansas City, Doug Feinberg in New York, Howard Fendrich in Washington, and Associated Press writer Kate Brumback in Atlanta have contributed

Michigan, Jocelyn Benson, United States Presidential Election, 2020