Ohio should be the NFL’s bubble for the 2020 season
By Kyle Edmond
Northeast Ohio Stadiums
Northeast Ohio already has two stadiums that have housed NFL games in the last year, as well as two more that could very easily do it.
The main stadium in this area that could be used would be FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, the home of the Cleveland Browns. This field would see about the same amount of action as a normal season, being a site for games only, meaning the natural grass surface would hold well and is just over two hours from Columbus.
The second stadium that the NFL already uses is the Tom Benson Hall Of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio that holds the Hall of Fame game every year and is also just over two hours from Columbus. This field was recently renovated and would work. However, some high school games are played here as well, so should Ohio high school athletics still take place in the fall, that would eventually be a logistical issue.
Another newer stadium, opening in 2009, the home of the Akron Zips, InfoCision Stadium. Being one of the newer stadiums in the country, the $61.6 million stadium should be well up to the task of holding an NFL game each week and sits about two hours from Columbus.
The final stadium is just down the road from Akron in Kent, Ohio, Dix Stadium the home of the Kent State Golden Flashes. An older stadium, Dix has a turf surface that would hold up to the wear of holding an additional game each week and is also two hours away from Columbus.