NEW YORK– The NCAA has taken the unprecedented step of holding its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments without fans because of ongoing fears about the coronavirus pandemic.
The decision came in conjunction with the NBA deciding to suspend of its season indefinitely. after a player from the Utah Jazz tested positive and major conferences opting to play the bulk of their league tournaments without fans.
“While I understand how disappointing this is for all fans of our sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States,’’ NCAA president Mark Emmert said in a statement. “This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of the coaches, administrators, fans and most importantly our student-athletes. We recognize the opportunity to compete in the NCAA tournament is a once in a lifetime experience for the students and their families. Today, we will move forward and conduct championships consistent with the current information and will continue to monitor and make the adjustments as needed.’’
Emmert added the canceling the college sports major event was considered.
And, as much as I hate saying this, it might be the only logical solution if lives are at stake if games are played in huge stadiums.
“We recognize our tournaments bring people from all around the country together,’’ Emmert told the AP. “They are not just regional events. They’re big national events. It’s a very, very hard decision for all obvious reasons.
The NCAA is also looking into moving the men’s Final Four from Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium to a smaller arena. The NCAA will consider using smaller venues for the men’s regionals, which are scheduled to be played at Houston, the Garden in New York City; Los Angeles and Indianapolis. All sites for next week’s first and second round men’s games will remain the same unless conditions in those areas force relocation.
Emmett said a protocol for the medical screening of people entering the arenas is still being worked out, along with what constitutes essential staff and how to define family members.
CBS and Turner plan to broadcast the games as usual. Other media members will be allowed into the arena to cover the games, but how many is still being determined. Wednesday’s decision also applies to ice hockey and wrestling championships.
The NCAA announcement came after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he would issue an order that would ban fans from NCAA tournament games in Cleveland and First Four games in Dayton.
Sporting events globally have been affected. States and cities have banned large gatherings, leading teams such as Golden State to say they would play in empty arenas.
The Big 12, Big Ten, ACC, Pac-12, SEC American Athletic Conference, Southland and Conference USA basketball tournaments will proceed without fans beginning with Thursday’s games, following the lead of the NCAA barring anyone but family and essential personnel. The Big 12 and Big Ten started Wednesday’s tournament games with fans in attention while the ACC men’s tournament started Tuesday in Greensboro, N.C.
The Big East, which began here last night, announced that the remainder of the conference’s men’s basketball tournament, which continues Thursday through Saturday, will be played under a restricted attendance policy. Attendees will be limited to student-athletes, coaches, event staff, essential team and conference staff, TV personnel, credential media and immediate family members of the participating teams. Schools will be limited to 200 tickets per institution. The decision was made by the conference’s ten-member institutions on a conference call late Wednesday night.
