Sports world adjusting to
coronavirus crisis
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[March 12, 2020]
Professional and college sports
are attempting to adjust to a rapidly escalating health crisis, with
leagues, colleges and public institutions around the world Wednesday
announcing cancellations, postponements and changes of venues.
The NBA announced that it will suspend the season after Wednesday
night's games until further notice as it deals with the coronavirus
pandemic.
The announcement came shortly after a game between the Utah Jazz and
host Oklahoma City Thunder was called off moments before tipoff.
Players were in quarantine at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma
City after a player ESPN identified as Jazz All-Star center Rudy
Gobert tested positive for coronavirus.
The NBA said in a statement the hiatus is indefinite and next steps
would be determined after discussions with experts.
--Major League Baseball is formulating contingency plans for
regular-season games with respect to the outbreak.
The Wall Street Journal's Jarred Diamond reported that MLB is
looking into different sites for games once the season begins later
this month as opposed to playing in empty stadiums.
Teams could play at other MLB stadiums in cities less affected by
the coronavirus when the primary tenant is on the road, per the
report. Spring training facilities in Arizona or Florida are also
being considered to host games.
In the event that large public gatherings are banned by local
authorities -- for example, such as what is currently being
performed in Santa Clara County in California -- then playing in an
empty stadium would be considered.
Diamond, however, said that MLB is not entertaining the idea of
canceling the regular season.
--NCAA president Mark Emmert announced that "only essential staff
and limited family" will be allowed to attend all upcoming NCAA
championship events, including the men's and women's basketball
tournaments.
"The NCAA continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 in consultation
with public health officials and our COVID-19 advisory panel,"
Emmert said in a statement. "Based on their advice and my
discussions with the NCAA Board of Governors, I have made the
decision to conduct our upcoming championship events, including the
Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, with only
essential staff and limited family attendance."
Earlier in the day, the NCAA's COVID-19 advisory panel recommended
the move, as colleges around the country address whether to hold
classes on campus or send students home and conduct classes online.
State and local governments have also been limiting crowd sizes in
public spaces, also impacting whether fans will be allowed to attend
sporting events.
The NCAA hasn't yet determined whether media will be allowed at each
site.
Later in the day, Michigan announced it has canceled its annual
spring football game, scheduled for April 18 in Ann Arbor. The
school also canceled any third-party competitions and events set to
be held on its athletic facilities through April 21. The athletic
program will deal with activities after that date on a case-by-case
basis and "work proactively with all groups on refunds."
--On Wednesday night, the University of Texas announced all home
athletic events through March 22 will be contested without fans in
attendance. That will include baseball games and tennis matches.
--The Pac-12 Conference will continue its postseason tournament in
Las Vegas without fans starting Thursday. The limited access to
events includes all sports, including baseball, softball and spring
football games.
Other conference tournaments are also shifting to a fan-free
environment, allowing only immediately family members of players and
coaches and staff considered essential to the games into arenas,
including the Big Ten and Big 12.
--Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced a ban gatherings of more than
250 people in Seattle and surrounding areas to try to reduce the
spread of the coronavirus.
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A Big Ten volunteer wipes down courtside area with Clorox bleach
wipes during the halftime of the Indiana vs Nebraska first round Big
Ten Mens Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory
Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Inslee's order targeted sports, concerts and cultural events in King
County, where Seattle is located, as well as in adjacent Snohomish
and Pierce counties. Inslee said Tuesday that the coronavirus could
infect as many as 64,000 in the state within eight weeks unless
"real action" was taken.
Among those teams affected would be the Seattle Dragons of the XFL,
the Seattle Sounders (MLS) and the Seattle Mariners (MLB). The
University of Washington is located in Seattle.
--Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine plans to issue an order that would prohibit
mass gatherings in the state, and that prompted the NHL's Columbus
Blue Jackets to announce they will comply, beginning with Thursday
night's home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Blue Jackets said the arena will be closed to the general public
and that admission will be "limited to home and visiting club
personnel, credentialed media and broadcast partners, essential club
and arena staff and NHL officials."
DeWine's edict will also affect the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers as
well as NCAA Tournament games scheduled to be played in the state.
The First Four is scheduled for Dayton on March 17-18 and Cleveland
is slated to host first-round games on March 20 and second-round
games on March 22. The Mid-American Conference banned general fan
attendance from its basketball tourney in Cleveland after DeWine
made a recommendation on Tuesday that indoor sporting events be
"spectator-free, effective immediately" due to the coronavirus
outbreak.
The Blue Jackets announced after DeWine's recommendations that they
would allow fans to attend Thursday's game against the Pittsburgh
Penguins and Saturday's contest against the Nashville Predators at
Nationwide Arena. But plans changed Wednesday when the suggestions
were on the verge of becoming an order.
"Every expert has told us that there is a risk in any kind of mass
gathering -- the closer you are to other people, the bigger the
risk," DeWine said. "You must ask yourself if going to a large
gathering is necessary."
--Activision Blizzard has canceled live Overwatch League events
scheduled through April.
"We are continuing to closely monitor COVID-19 (coronavirus),
city-level recommendations and mandates, and all guidelines set
forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," the
company said in a statement posted to its website.
Earlier, all league homestands in Asia were canceled, and on
Tuesday, Paris Eternal's scheduled homestand next month was called
off. Activision Blizzard's statement said the company hopes to
reschedule.
--The remainder of the Houston Rodeo was canceled on Wednesday, less
than halfway through the run of the popular annual event. It opened
March 3 and was scheduled to close March 22.
"In the interest of public health, the City of Houston and the
Houston Health Department have ordered the Houston Livestock Show
and Rodeo to close," the rodeo organization posted on its website.
"The Rodeo will respectfully and dutifully comply with the City's
order.
"The Rodeo is deeply saddened; however, the safety and well-being of
our guests and our community is our top priority. ... Having to
close early is extremely difficult as guests, volunteers,
exhibitors, rodeo athletes and entertainers look forward to the 20
days of the Rodeo each year."
--Field Level Media
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