NCAA makes it official: No fans at men’s and women’s basketball tournament games
The NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will be played, but will not be open to the public, the governing body announced Wednesday.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey announced Wednesday night on the SEC Network that its conference tournament will continue without fans in attendance starting Thursday. Only teams, officials, essential personnel and credentialed media will be allowed to attend.
In a statement from NCAA President Mark Emmert, NCAA Tournament game attendance will be limited to essential personnel and family members because of the coronavirus.
Here’s the statement:
“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 our fans of our sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States. The decision is in the best interest of the 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 their 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.”
STATEMENT FROM SEC
“The Southeastern Conference has announced it will conduct the 2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament with only essential staff, limited family and credentialed media in attendance at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville for the remainder of the week beginning on Thursday following the recommendation of the NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel related to conducting sporting events closed to the public.
In addition, the SEC announced that all regular season contests in all sports on SEC campuses and SEC Championship events will be conducted with similar attendance restrictions effective Thursday, March 12 through at least March 30 at which time the conference and its member universities will re-evaluate conditions.
The SEC issued a statement from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey:
“In light of recent developments beyond our control related to the spread of the coronavirus, including a recommendation from the NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel, and after consultation with our member universities, we have made the difficult decision to hold the 2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament in Nashville without spectators beginning with games of Thursday, March 12. Effective immediately, the policy will also apply to other SEC Championship events and on-campus regular season games scheduled through at least the end of March.
“After conferring with local and national health authorities, we remain confident in our ability to safeguard the health and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches and other staff who will be participating as well as the limited number of family members and media who will be in attendance at the tournament.
“We regret the inconvenience and disappointment this decision has caused our fans, especially those who have already travelled to Nashville for the tournament.”
As previously announced, the SEC has implemented the following enhanced health measures for the 2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament:
Use of hospital grade disinfectant to sanitize locker rooms before teams arrive and immediately upon departure;
Sanitization of game balls with hospital grade disinfectant after each practice and game;
Sanitization of team benches plus band and cheerleader seating areas following each game;
Hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes and Lysol spray in team locker rooms;
Hand sanitizers at scorer’s table, in officials’ locker rooms, operations offices and media areas.
For the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, automatic refunds of ticket purchases will be made to fans who are the original purchaser of the tickets from SEC Office or an SEC university, or a verified purchaser on the SEC Ticket Exchange powered by Ticketmaster. For regular season events, each campus will determine refund policies and procedures.
The SEC Network will televise the entire first and second round of the tournament and the quarterfinals evening session. ESPN will broadcast the afternoon session of the quarterfinals, both semifinal matchups and the championship game.
The SEC remains in continued communication with public health officials and reminds everyone to be attentive to everyday preventive actions identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov).
OTHER CONFERENCES
The Big 12 announced Wednesday night that starting Thursday it will limit schools to 125 tickets and will clear the arena after each game. There will be no mascots, bands or cheerleaders.
The Big 10 Tournament has now followed suit. It will not allow fans at tourney games, starting Thursday.
Add the ACC to the list.
Ditto the Pac-12, which will not allow fans, as well.
The NCAA Tournament Selection Show is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 15.
The governor of Ohio has already mandated that NCAA Tournament games played in Dayton for the First Four and Cleveland for first- and second-round games be played without fans. The mayor of Houston announced that all city events will be postponed or canceled. The NCAA Tournament’s South Regional is to be played in Houston.
Update: Mark Emmert told the Associated Press that the NCAA is looking into moving the Final Four away from Mercedes Benz Stadium to a smaller site in Atlanta. He said the same options are being considered for the four regional sites. Emmert said that first- and second-round sites will stay the same.
Update: Big East commissioner Val Ackerman says that the conference will conduct its tournament with fans at Madison Square Garden.
Update: Sports Illustrated reporting that the NBA is considering postponing the rest of its season for at least a month.
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 5:20 PM.
