CANTON, Ohio ― The game that kicks off the NFL season has been officially canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

What You Need To Know


  • This is the first time the NFL has had to cancel an event this offseason

  • The game between the Cowboys and Steelers was scheduled to be played on Aug. 6

  • The enshrinement ceremony has been postponed until 2021

NFL fans visiting the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton were disappointed this Thursday after learning the annual Hall of Fame game is officially canceled.  

“I hate to see anything get canceled because of all this," said Pittsburgh resident Duffy Powers. "Everyone is at a loss.” 
 
This marks the first time the NFL has had to cancel an event this offseason.
 
“Hall of Fame Weekend is my best weekend every year,” said Glen Bender.
 
Glen Bender is the owner of Italos’ Pizzeria, which is located about five football fields away from the Hall of Fame game.
 
“Really disappointing because a couple of my employees are Pittsburgh fans and they were gonna go to the game,” said Bender. 
 
The Hall of Fame Game cancelation will also affect residents who allow their driveways to be used for gameday parking― for a fee.   
 
“Probably a thousand dollars or more cause it’s like a three, four-day weekend," said Amber Driggers, who lives in Canton. 
 
Amber Driggers says she depends on the money she makes during the Hall of Fame Game to buy school supplies for her kids.  
 
“Just taking my kids back to school― crayons, pencils, papers, clothes...everything.” 
  
Not only is the game canceled, but the the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony on August 8 has been postponed until 2021.