2020 SEASON CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19

For Immediate Release:

2020 SEASON CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19

We write this letter to inform you that due to the COVID-19 virus, the Yakima Canines will be cancelling

the 2020 Professional indoor football season this upcoming fall. The decision to cancel the 2020 season

aligns with the current guidelines in place.

Like all of the decisions we've made related to COVID-19, this was a difficult one but was made with the

health and well-being of our players and local Yakima community in mind. Since March, we have

actively sought advice from state leaders, the CDC and the Yakima Sundome facility management to

assess the probability of conducting events this fall in a manner that would uphold safety mandates and

recommendations. It is our intention to ensure we can provide a safe environment for everyone. After

much thought and consideration, it became clear that we cannot compete without breaking from social

distancing guidelines still maintained by the CDC and the Governor of Washington’s Safe Start Plan.

We know this news will be very disappointing to athletes who had high hopes of competing this season

as well as fans who looked forward to the return of professional indoor football to Yakima. Several of

our out of state players have relocated to the area and are happy to be new permanent members of the

Yakima Community. We are very grateful for the understanding and support our community has

provided to the Yakima Canines football team and organization.

We are committed to the philosophy that prioritizing your health and safety ahead of all else is what is

most important. In the last few months, we have had to make some tough decisions to cope with the

ever changing guidelines of COVID-19. Our fingers are now crossed and it is our hope that we will be

able to conduct a spring season with some level of normalcy.

We are extremely optimistic about the upcoming spring season. We will surely rise out of this COVID-19

period stronger as a community. We will continue to communicate with our players and our fans as

state, local and health agencies keep us informed of new public health guidelines moving forward.

For our Season Ticket holders, please note that we will be rolling over your purchases to the upcoming

2021 Season. The same is true for all of our 2020 Sponsors. Advertising sponsorships will be rolled over

into the upcoming 2021 football season. We are hoping to have made enough progress in this fight

against Covid-19 to host our team tryouts in December/January. This will put us on track to begin

practicing in February and begin our season in the spring/summer of 2021. The Sundome will be

releasing the available dates for the upcoming 2021 season in the next few weeks. We will be reaching

out to our season ticket holders later this year to hopefully host a watch party during the season tryouts;

to pass out your Canines T-shirts and allow you an opportunity to meet your future players.

The Canines organization wishes you all the best during this unprecedented time. We ask that you

follow the guidelines put in place by your local and state agencies to keep you and your family healthy

and safe.

Sincerely

The Yakima Canines Organization