Report: WWE Looked To Run Tapings With Fans In Late July

Although the state of Florida is currently reporting record numbers of positive coronavirus cases, WWE has apparently looked into running shows with fans in "The Sunshine State" for dates in late July.

Dave Meltzer reported in The Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the promotion was looking to run Lakeland, FL's 8,000-seat RP Funding Center for reported dates of Friday, July 24, and Monday, July 27, for live television shoots.

Meltzer wrote, "The plan was to allow fans but to have social distancing, so limiting crowds to a percentage of capacity. Last word is that may be pushed to August, but the July dates were originally set to be announced this coming week because Vince McMahon was determined to be the first person to run a live indoor sports event with a crowd."

Florida reported a record 8,942 new coronavirus cases on Friday, nearly 3,500 more than the state's previous high of 5,511, set two days earlier.

Polk County, where Lakeland is situated, reported 209 of those cases. Polk has a reported 2,693 total active coronavirus cases as of press time, along with 87 deaths.