Continuing a dark and surreal start to the sporting decade, the NCAA Tournament will go without fans due to the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19.
NCAA president Mark Emmert announced Wednesday that all upcoming NCAA championship events, including the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, will be conducted in front of essential personnel and family members only. The decision is the most significant ripple in U.S. sports from the spread of COVID-19, which has already resulted in the cancellation of numerous events around the globe.
The announcement came within hours of the NBA Warriors agreeing to hold their Thursday home game against the Nets without paying fans.
With mass public gatherings a potential breeding ground for the spread of the coronavirus, sports leagues have found themselves faced with the option of holding games without fans or postponements and cancellations. This year’s Indian Wells tennis tournament has already been called off for the time being, and the Summer Olympics in Tokyo could be in jeopardy.
The Ivy League on Thursday canceled the remainder of its spring sports season, with its member teams able to choose whether to participate in postseason events.
[News from Inside the NCAA/Twitter 3.11]
