The NCAA released a statement Wednesday that it will hold all championship events without fans in attendance, due to the fear of spreading coronavirus.
All championship games will be held with only limited staff and immediate family members, NCAA president Mark Emmert announced in the statement. This means both the SEC swimming and diving championships held at Georgia and the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will be held with no fans.
The decision was in hindsight a no-brainer. The Golden State Warriors, along with a number of professional sports teams world wide announced that they would not have fans for the remainder of their seasons. The risk for all those in attendance would be too great to allow admittance to tens of thousands of fans.
“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 the 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.
“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.”
This all has been sparked by the World Health Organization terming the virus a pandemic.
Emmert also told The Associated Press that there could very well be changes in game locations, especially for the Final Four, set to take place in a lonesome Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
$867.5 million in television and marketing revenue was brought in from last year’s men’s basketball tournament, according to the NCAA’s most recent financial statement.
Roughly 1,350 fans bought tickets to the swimming and diving championships in Georgia’s Ramsey Center.
All locker room media access will also be prohibited for all NCAA championships.
“The health and well-being of student-athletes and teams is an ongoing priority for the SEC,” the league said.
The Bulldogs take on Ole Miss Wednesday as the last game with fans in attendance for the SEC Tournament.
“Tonight’s SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament games will continue as regularly scheduled. We are evaluating plans for the remainder of the tournament.” said the SEC on Twitter.
“Not too many people touching me, putting their arms around me, nothing like that,” said Georgia superstar, and recently named SEC freshman of the year Anthony Edwards. “We’ll take pictures, but keep your distance…I’m not trying to get sick or anything like that. No disrespect to anybody.”
The current available number of confirmed cases in the United States is at 1,000, with the death toll at 31.
This is truly something we have never seen in our lifetimes, and the effects are now being seen in the sports world.
Prayers to all who have been affected by the virus so far and to keeping not just the country but the world safe.