The NCAA will restrict fans from attending upcoming championship events, including the Division-1 men’s basketball tournament, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The statement in full from NCAA president Mark Emmert:
The NCAA continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 in consultation with public health officials and our COVID-19 advisory panel. 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. 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. This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, most importantly, our student-athletes. We recognize the opportunity to compete in an NCAA national championship is an experience of a lifetime 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 adjustments as needed.
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The advisory panel’s statement:
The NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel recognizes the fluidity of COVID-19 and its impact on hosting events in a public space. COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in the United States, and behavioral risk mitigation strategies are the best option for slowing the spread of this disease. This is especially important because mildly symptomatic individuals can transmit COVID-19. Given these considerations, coupled with a more unfavorable outcome of COVID-19 in older adults – especially those with underlying chronic medical conditions – we recommend against sporting events open to the public. We do believe sport events can take place with only essential personnel and limited family attendance, and this protects our players, employees, and fans.
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The decision to restrict fans from the men’s basketball tournament, as well as the upcoming Division-1 women’s basketball and wrestling tournaments, will particularly be felt in New Jersey. Rutgers is expected to make its first men’s basketball appearance in the tournament since 1991, while Seton Hall has Final Four aspirations and is a dark horse to win the national championship. Monmouth, Saint Peter’s and Rider are all in contention for the MAAC’s automatic bid to the tournament.
Princeton was also expected to be a bid contender in the Ivy League Tournament until that conference event was canceled - one of the first significant sporting events in the country to be wiped out by concern about the virus.
Rutgers, Princeton and Rider are all expected to have All-American and/or national championship contenders in wrestling.
So far, here are the major U.S. sporting events impacted by the coronavirus:
NBA
- NBA, MLB NHL and MLS have suspended media access to clubhouses and locker rooms.
- The NBA is considering closing games to fans.
- League’s owners also considering a “hiatus for a period time.”
- The Golden State Warriors “are planning to play foreseeable home games without fans," beginning Thursday against the Brooklyn Nets.
- Philadelphia is urging fans to not attend 76ers and Flyers home games at Wells Fargo Center.
MLB
- MLB is considering moving regular-season games to spring training facilities in Arizona and Florida.
- The Seattle Mariners are actively “working with MLB Office of the Commissioner on alternative plans for games that were scheduled at T-Mobile Park at the end of March.”
- If coronavirus spreads at a high rate in New York, it’s possible the Yankees will be forced to leave Yankee Stadium and play home games in another state.
NHL
- The San Jose Sharks might host games with no fans, after Santa Clara County banned gatherings of 1,000-plus people for the remainder of March.
- The New Jersey Devils released guidelines Tuesday for fans attending games at the Prudential Center in Newark.
NCAA
- Rutgers has closed all home games to spectators. Team practices are closed to all spectators, including the media.
- Rutgers is hosting its Pro Day on Friday, but it will be closed to the media.
- The Big Ten Tournament will not allow fans starting Thursday.
- The Big East is considering playing the men’s basketball tournament without fans or canceling tournament games in ‘fluid’ situation. Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman said fans would still be permitted into Wednesday night’s Big East games, but that the situation was fluid and could change by Thursday morning.
- The MAC Tournament “will be closed to the public.” Same goes for the Big West Tournament.
- The Ivy League canceled its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
- The NCAA will restrict fans from attending upcoming championship events, including the Division-1 men’s basketball tournament, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
NFL
- The league currently plans to proceed as normal with its annual owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., and the NFL Draft in Las Vegas. The meetings run from March 29 to April 1. The draft is April 23-25.
- The Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints have pulled their coaching staffs from pro day evaluations on the road.
Olympics
- ESPN reports the president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee said Wednesday “there is no plan now to change our plans" for the 2020 Summer Games, which begin July 24.
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James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.