Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 250; Flight Crew Type 133
Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Airspace Structure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
I was operating in the ZZZ SFRA and may have inadvertently violated a sporting TFR. The sporting event in question was played without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the flight; and as part of my preflight planning; I reviewed current TFRs for the intended flight path using the FAA's TFR website (tfr.faa.gov). Sporting TFRs do not appear on this list; however they historically have appeared in EFB applications; including Garmin Pilot which I reviewed prior to this flight. Garmin Pilot did not show any TFRs over this sporting event either prior to the flight or during the flight. The flight operation took place in the ZZZ SFRA. I was not contacted during the flight by ATC; nor was I notified by ATC or the FBO at the destination airport of any issues with the flight. To add to the confusion; another pilot also operating in the vicinity during the time of the game was in contact with ZZZ1 Tower and was notified that there was no TFR because there were no spectators.A few days later; I received notification from Garmin that sporting TFRs were not appearing in the Garmin Pilot application due to an issue with Garmin's data supplier related to COVID-19.I felt this report was prudent since even prior to COVID-19; these sporting TFRs were already difficult to find. During the COVID-19 pandemic; they are even more difficult to find since the typical data sources may or may not accurately display them.To help avoid any issues with these TFRs in the future. I have joined a local industry group who among other services; provides notifications to pilots about sporting TFRs and other TFRs. I will also be reviewing local teams' schedules directly in addition to using the 3rd party EFB applications.
Pilot reported confusion on whether a sporting TFR is in effect during the COVID-19 Pandemic when spectators are not allowed at the game.