How will the sports world handle concerns about the coronavirus? We’re tracking the latest cancellations, postponements and alterations in sports for players and fans.
NBA suspended its season on March 11
NCAA Tournament was canceled on March 12
MLB suspended operations on March 12 and then pushed back opening day to mid-May at the earliest on March 16
NHL paused its season on March 12 and postponed its draft on March 25
MLS shut down on March 12 and has pushed back games until June 8 at the earliest
The Masters was postponed on March 13, and a new major championship schedule was announced April 6
Kentucky Derby was moved to September on March 17
The start of the WNBA season was postponed April 3.
Friday, May 15
WNBA commissioner: League focusing on scenarios to play
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is focusing on about a half-dozen scenarios for the league to begin play this summer.
Engelbert did not go into detail about each scenario but told the Associated Press on Friday that the league is looking at playing at one site or a few possibly at most instead of at every home arena.
“I feel really good about how things are now evolving and settling,” Engelbert said in a phone interview. “There’s still no date (to start the season). We have had a variety of conversations moving forward. None are without challenge.”
Despite the challenges, the commissioner is optimistic “we can have a season this summer.”
What that season will look like is unclear. The league has some added flexibility in it scheduling because it was originally taking off most of July and the early part of August for the 2020 Olympics. The postponement of the Tokyo Games gives the WNBA more of a chance to have a full season.
Engelbert said many times during the nearly 30-minute interview that the health of the players, league and team staff was of the utmost importance.
The commissioner said that the league would start paying its players June 1 — the date they were scheduled to start getting paid for the season. But there are still ongoing talks between the union and the league.
The salary talks with the union include how the pay will work, roster size and salary cap that teams will have. The commissioner expects to have more details worked out before the first check is cut. Most teams have already cut down their rosters to 15 players with a couple still at 16.
Thursday, May 14
MLS extends moratorium on group, team training
Major League Soccer is extending a league-wide moratorium on group and team training through June 1.
The moratorium had been in place through May 15.
MLS players are permitted to use outdoor team training fields for voluntary individual workouts, in compliance with local health authorities and government orders, that were created in consultation with medical and infectious disease experts.
Team training facilities remain closed to all players, with the exception of those requiring medical treatment or rehabilitation, under the direction of the team medical staff, that cannot be performed from the safety of their residences.
MLS suspended the season because of the coronavirus pandemic on March 12, closing all team facilities but asking players to remain in market with their teams.
Wednesday, May 13
NCAA delays date for NBA draft entrants to return to school
The NCAA is pushing back its deadline for early entrants to the NBA draft to withdraw and return to school, though it will wait to set a new date.
The deadline was June 3, which would’ve come 10 days after the completion of the NBA scouting combine. But with the combine postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic, NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt said in a statement Wednesday that college sports’ governing body won’t set a new deadline until the NBA has determined its revised timeline for the predraft process.
Gavitt said the NCAA will work with the National Association of Basketball Coaches to ensure the change “supports a player’s decision-making process” on the draft while also allowing them to retain their college eligibility.
The NBA announced May 1 that it was postponing the draft lottery and combine scheduled for Chicago this month.
Monday, May 11
World Baseball Classic postponed from 2021 to 2023
The World Baseball Classic will be postponed from 2021 to 2023 because of the new coronavirus, a person familiar with the planning told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because no announcement has been made. The decision, first reported by ESPN Deportes, must be approved by the WBC board of directors, which is expected. The board includes representatives of Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association, the World Baseball Softball Confederation, Nippon Professional Baseball and the Korea Baseball Organization.
The fifth edition of the tournament was scheduled for next March 9-23 in Taiwan, Tokyo, Phoenix and Miami. The Marlins were to host the semifinals and final along with half of the quarterfinals, which also were to be played in Tokyo.
Qualifying had been scheduled for this past March but was postponed because of the pandemic.
The United States won the tournament for the first time in 2017 after titles by Japan in 2006 and 2009 and the Dominican Republic in 2013.
Monday, May 4
NWSL to allow individual workouts starting Wednesday
The National Women’s Soccer League will allow voluntary, individual workouts at outdoor team practice fields starting Wednesday.
The league’s announcement Monday follows a similar decision by Major League Soccer. The nine-team NWSL was supposed to start the season April 18 but it was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Teams must follow the NWSL’s detailed return-to-play protocol created by the league’s medical task force. The teams must also submit detailed procedures and scheduling relative to their individual markets.
An essential staff member will be allowed to oversee training sessions, while maintaining social distancing, to make sure players follow certain procedures.
Like the MLS training policy, players will not have access to indoor team facilities and they will have to undergo symptom screening before workouts.
Tuesday, April 28
AP sources: MLB opening options include 3 regional divisions
Major League Baseball is exploring various options that could allow the season to start if the medical situation allows, including a plan in which the 30 teams could be split into three regional divisions.
Among the formats is one is which teams could be restricted to playing within their region, two people familiar with the discussions said Tuesday. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no public statements were authorized.
That plan, if used, would break up the traditional alignments of the American and National Leagues. It also would cut travel during the coronavirus pandemic.
MLB also has looked at configurations for all-Arizona, Arizona-and-Florida and Arizona-plus-Texas-plus Florida, the people said. The latest plan was first reported by USA Today.
MLB also has looked into starting the season in Arizona, Texas and Florida, playing in empty ballparks. Teams could switch later to their regular-season stadiums if the health situation allows. And if conditions improve later in the year, they could start playing before fans with only a percentage of seats sold.
Opening day had been scheduled for March 26, but the new coronavirus caused MLB to delay the start to mid-May at the earliest.
Any plan would be subject to medical approval plus consent of federal, state and local authorities. Any schedule with games at neutral sites or without fans would require an agreement between MLB and the players’ association.
Baseball also is considering expanding the playoffs beyond the current 10-team format. Officials have discussed extending the playoffs into November or possibly even December, using domed ballparks and warm-weather cities.
Monday, April 27
Japan’s medical head says vaccine needed quickly
The head of Japan’s medical association said it will be difficult to hold the Olympics without coronavirus vaccines, and that he hoped effective vaccines or drugs to treat COVID-19 will be developed quickly.
“In my view, it would be difficult to hold the Olympics unless effective vaccines are developed,” Japan Medical Association President Yoshitake Yokokura told a video press conference Tuesday in Tokyo. “I hope vaccines and drugs will be developed as soon as possible.”
Japan and the International Olympic Committee agreed to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Games until July of next year because of the global coronavirus pandemic. Japan is under a monthlong state of emergency amid the rapid increase of the infections across the country, where hospitals are overburdened and causing fears of the collapse of the medical systems.
Yokokura said said the Games are possible only if the infections are under control not only in Japan but globally. He did not say whether he opposes the Olympics without vaccines.
Tuesday, April 21
USOPC to cut up to 20%, says no games would be ‘devastating’
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee is bracing for cuts of up to 20% because of the coronavirus pandemic and warning that a cancellation of the Tokyo Games would be “devastating” to athletes and the organization.
The Associated Press received a copy of a letter CEO Sarah Hirshland sent to leaders across the U.S. Olympic world Tuesday, in which she said cuts of 10 to 20% are “necessary to balance both the current delay in revenue and anticipated decline” that’s expected over coming years.
The letter was accompanied by a Q&A that dealt with the possibility that the Olympics, now scheduled to start a year late, in July 2021, could be canceled altogether if the coronavirus isn’t curtailed by then.
Though job cuts or pay reductions appear likely among the 500-person staff, many based at the headquarters in Colorado Springs, the Q&A said “we will look at broader program, services and personnel-related costs before we consider cuts or furloughs.”
Monday, April 20
MLB can cut pay and lay off managers and coaches starting May 1
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has made a move that allows teams to lay off or cut the pay of major and minor league managers, coaches, trainers and full-time scouts starting May 1.
Manfred has suspended uniform employee contracts that cover about 9,000 people, including general managers on some teams. Manfred cited the inability to play games due to the national emergency caused by the new coronavirus pandemic.
“Our clubs rely heavily on revenue from tickets/concessions, broadcasting/media, licensing and sponsorships to pay salaries,” Manfred wrote in an email Monday, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. “In the absence of games, these revenue streams will be lost or substantially reduced, and clubs will not have sufficient funds to meet their financial obligations.”
Several teams, including the Cubs and White Sox, have said they will pay their employees through May.
Friday, April 17
NASCAR postpones another race
NASCAR announced Friday it is postponing race weekend events at Martinsville Speedway originally scheduled for May 8-9.
“Our intention remains to run all 36 races, with a potential return to racing without fans in attendance in May at a date and location to be determined,” NASCAR said in a statement. “The health and safety of our competitors, employees, fans, and the communities in which we run continues to be our top priority. We will continue to consult with health experts and local, state and federal officials as we assess future scheduling options.”
MLS discusses salaries and pushes back games to June 8
Major League Soccer announced Friday it had extended its moratorium on games another four weeks, to June 8, adding for the first time that it is exploring changes in player compensation if a full 34-game season is not played.
“We are seeking to work collaboratively with the (players union) to find a solution that provides a safety net for all players, opportunity to earn full salary in the scenario where all matches are played with fans, and in particular provides protection for the players at the lower end of the salary scale,” the league said in a statement.
The league and the players union are discussing “significant salary cuts,” with the league seeking reductions of up to 50% if games are canceled, ESPN reported Friday. That percentage could change based on games played and games played without fans in attendance. Players making less than $100,000 this season would not be affected.
Senior LPGA Championship canceled
Women’s golf has lost another senior major because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Senior LPGA Championship has been canceled. It was scheduled to be played July 30-Aug. 1 at French Lick Resort in Indiana.
The USGA previously canceled the U.S. Senior Women’s Open.The Senior LPGA will stay at French Lick in 2021. The new dates will be determined later.
Tuesday, April 14
MLB cuts senior staff pay by 35%, pays all staff through May
Major League Baseball is cutting the salary of senior staff by an average of 35% for this year and is guaranteeing paychecks to its full-time employees of its central office through May.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement Tuesday in a memorandum to staff, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. Manfred also said the commissioner’s office will make all planned distributions to teams through May.
“As part of our effort to protect the organization, my senior staff and I have decided to reduce our compensation by an average of 35% for 2020 to help the organization weather this terrible storm,” Manfred wrote in the memo, which described cost-cutting efforts.
“As a result of these developments, I am pleased to be in a position to ensure that all employees that received regular pay checks in April will continue to be paid through May 31,” he wrote. “I am deeply grateful to the owners for supporting my decision to continue to support all of our employees in an environment where the owners and the clubs are facing their own very difficult financial issues.”
MLB’s season was to have started March 26, and teams agreed to advance $170 million to players in salary for the first 60 days of the season. As part of the deal, players agreed to give up claims to the remainder of their roughly $4 billion in salary if no games are played.
MLB and the union have had only a preliminary discussion of potential ways for the season to start if given the go-ahead by federal, state and local governments and health officials. Having all teams based in the Phoenix area is among the contingency plans being examined.
Monday, April 13
FIFA VP: International soccer could be off until 2021
Most international soccer might not be played until 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic travel restrictions and the need to give club competitions the chance to resume, a FIFA vice president said Monday.
Victor Montagliani, a Canadian who is president of the governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean, has been heading a FIFA working group formulating plans to deal with the implications of the world’s biggest sport being largely shut down since last month.
FIFA already has called off matches between countries that were due to be played in March and June. Montagliani, CONCACAF’s president, believes the September, October and November windows for national team matches could be scrapped.
“I personally think that might be a bit of a challenge, not so much because of just the health issues around the world and the various degrees of preparedness, but also committing to international travel as soon as we come back,” Montagliani said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I think that domestic football is a priority. September is still in the books, but I would garner to say that I’m not sure it’s there on solid ground the way things are trending right now.”
The return of fans into packed stadiums could be dependent on a vaccine for the COVID-19 disease being ready — and that might not be until 2021.
“If we get the green light to play a football match. I highly doubt that first football match will be with fans. I just can’t see that. I think that would be taken a massive risk,” he said in a video interview from Vancouver, British Columbia. “I’m pretty sure it’ll be a phased in approach, just like the rest of society is going to be is then in terms of us trying to get back to normal here.”
A full resumption of soccer in 2020 might not be possible in parts of the world hardest hit by the pandemic, including Europe and North America.
“If you take that across international boundaries, that’s a significant issue,” Montagliani said. “And so, yes absolutely, there’s always that possibility.”
Friday, April 10
XFL suspends operations, lays off employees in response to coronavirus shutdown
The XFL, which was forced to stop play due to the coronavirus pandemic, has folded after one season, according to ESPN.com.
COO Jeffrey Pollock and league employees were informed during a Friday conference that the XFL is suspending all operations and laying off its workforce.
The XFL grabbed the attention of football-starved fans during its first year, but that momentum quickly stalled after the league was forced to suspend its season after five games. The league originally promised to return next season.
Thursday, April 9
UFC 249 canceled after ESPN, Disney halt promotion’s plans
UFC 249 was canceled Thursday after ESPN and parent company Disney stopped UFC President Dana White’s plan to keep fighting amid the coronavirus pandemic.
After defiantly vowing for weeks to maintain a regular schedule of fights while the rest of the sports world halted, White announced the decision to cease competition on ESPN, the UFC’s broadcast partner.
UFC 249 was scheduled for April 18 on ESPN Plus pay-per-view, and White planned to follow it with weekly fight cards from Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino on tribal land in California’s Central Valley.
White said he “got a call from the highest level you can go at Disney and the highest level of ESPN” asking him to cancel the shows. The UFC moved to ESPN in 2019 with a reported $1.5 billion deal.
White’s frustration with the decision was obvious after he had repeatedly vowed to fight on amid mixed public opinion. The UFC boss still remained upbeat, vowing to be “the first sport back” after the pandemic eases.
Tuesday, April 7
NHL commissioner raises chance of not completing regular season
For the first time since halting play four weeks ago, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman raised the possibility Tuesday of not completing the regular season in order to squeeze in time to award the Stanley Cup.
Bettman also acknowledged during an interview with NBCSN the league is considering having games played at neutral sites in the event not all teams will be allowed into their home rinks.
Bettman, however, stressed these are among myriad options being considered with nothing determined because it will take at least two more weeks to gain a clearer picture on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the league’s 31 markets.
“We’re looking at all options. Nothing’s been ruled in. Nothing’s been ruled out,” Bettman said during the interview broadcast on the league’s U.S. broadcast partner.
“The best thing and the easiest thing would be if at some point we could complete the regular season and then go into the playoffs as we normally do,” he said. “We understand that may not be possible. And that’s why we’re considering every conceivable alternative to deal with whatever the eventuality is.”
Monday, April 6
UFC 249 still on for April 18
UFC 249 is still on schedule for April 18, with Tony Ferguson fighting Justin Gaethje for an interim lightweight title in the main event.
Although UFC President Dana White hasn’t announced a venue for his promotion’s biggest pay-per-view show of the spring, he remains determined to hold an event in less than two weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The mixed martial arts promotion announced the change to UFC 249’s main event bout Monday. Gaethje replaces lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is apparently unable to leave Russia amid the pandemic.
“The fight is signed and is 100% ON LIVE on ESPN somewhere on EARTH!!!!” White tweeted Monday.
White has remained steadfast in his plan for the UFC to fight on while virtually all high-level sports competition has stopped.
White reportedly is attempting to secure a venue on the West Coast for the show, likely on tribal lands. Most U.S. states have restrictions in place that would make it impossible to stage a show even without an audience.
British Open canceled; new dates for other 3 majors
The British Open won’t be played this year for the first time since 1945 as golf officials announced a reconfigured major championship schedule.
The Masters was rescheduled for Nov. 12-15. That would follow the PGA Championship on Aug. 6-9 at Harding Park in San Francisco and the U.S. Open on Sept. 17-20 at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, N.Y.
The British Open, originally scheduled for July 16-19 at Royal St. George’s in England, will be pushed back until July 15-18, 2021, leaving the 150th Open for St. Andrews in 2022.
The PGA Championship would be followed by the PGA Tour’s season-ending run of the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., and the three FedEx Cup playoff events: the Northern Trust outside Boston, the BMW Championship at Olympia Fields and the Tour Championship in Atlanta, which would end on Labor Day. All four of those tournaments were pushed back one week.
The Ryder Cup remains scheduled for Sept. 25-27 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.
Friday, April 3
WNBA postpones the start of its season
The WNBA has postponed the start of its season because of the coronavirus pandemic, with no indication when play would begin.
The league was scheduled to open training camps April 26 and the regular season was set to begin May 15. The WNBA will still hold a “virtual” draft April 17.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement Friday the league will “use this time to conduct scenario-planning regarding new start dates and innovative formats.”
U.S. Women’s Open postponed to December
The U.S. Women’s Open in Houston is moving from the end of spring to the middle of December.
The USGA said Friday the rapid developments of COVID-19 has led the Women’s Open at Champions Golf Club to be postponed. Instead of being held June 4-7, the new date is Dec. 10-13.
That would be the latest a major championship is played, and the first time an official LPGA Tour event was held entirely in December since Maria Hjorth won the LPGA Tour Championship in 2010.
Premier League season suspended indefinitely
The Premier League was suspended indefinitely Friday following a meeting of the 20 soccer clubs where a series of financial measures were discussed amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The English league had given a tentative return date of April 30 but that was pushed back with a statement saying the “2019-20 season will only return when it is safe and appropriate to do so” and only with the full support of government and medical guidance.
Teams still have nine or 10 games left to play, with Liverpool — the leader by 25 points — still needing two more wins to clinch its first title since 1990.
UEFA, in a letter signed by the European Clubs’ Association and the European Leagues, has urged members not to abandon their competitions. Halting leagues without approval from UEFA could see teams blocked from qualifying for the Champions League and Europa League as they are determined based on final positions in domestic standings.
Thursday, April 2
MLS extends training moratorium through April 24
Major League Soccer has extended its training moratorium through April 24 because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Team facilities are closed to players and staff — except for players requiring treatment that cannot be administered at their homes.
Players are expected to remain in market with their teams during the moratorium to avoid the spread of the virus. The league will consider individual requests for players to travel to another city by car.
MLS teams were two games into the season when it was suspended on March 12. A Philadelphia Union player with mild symptoms recently tested positive for the virus.
Wednesday, April 1
AP Source: MLS cutting pay of top executives, some staff
Major League Soccer plans to cut the pay of some executives and front office personnel while the season is on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Deputy Commissioners Mark Abbott and Gary Stevenson will take 20% cuts in salary starting April 16, the person said on the condition of anonymity because the reductions were not announced publicly.
Other cuts would range from 20% to 10% for managerial staff. Lower salaried employees, like entry-level hires, would see no reduction in pay. The cuts were first reported by Yahoo Sports.
MLS does not plan to furlough or layoff staff at this time, although a hiring freeze is in place. The league employs some 300 people at its New York headquarters.
The MLS move comes after the NBA cut the salaries of some 100 top executives by 20% while the season is on hold. The NHL is cutting salaries for league employees 25% starting next month. NASCAR officers will have a 25% reduction in salary, while all other employees will have their salaries reduced by 20%.
Wimbledon canceled for 1st time since World War II
Wimbledon was canceled on Wednesday because of the coronavirus pandemic, the first time since World War II that the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament won’t be played.
The All England Club announced after an emergency meeting that the event it refers to simply as The Championships is being scrapped for 2020.
Wimbledon was scheduled to be played on the club’s grass courts on the outskirts of London from June 29 to July 12.
Instead, the next edition of the tournament will be June 28 to July 11, 2021.
The tournament was first held in 1877 and has been contested every year since, with the exception of two stretches: from 1915-18 because of World War I, and from 1940-45 because of World War II.
Monday, March 30
USA Rugby filing for bankruptcy amid coronavirus shutdown
USA Rugby has decided to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy because its financial woes have been exacerbated by the coronavirus shutdown.
In financial strife since 2018, USA Rugby’s recent attempt to restructure was set back this month when it had to suspend all activities indefinitely in the face of the pandemic.
The loss of spring and summer membership dues, and sponsorship pullback, has “resulted in significant loss of revenue,” and the sport’s national board and congress agreed on Sunday that filing for Chapter 11 combined with more approved loans from World Rugby were “the best platform to swiftly and efficiently address challenges and deliver a foundation for future stability.”
“The current suspension of sanctioned rugby activities caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the existing financial challenges facing the union, and a reorganization process will now be progressed with input from World Rugby,” USA Rugby said in a statement Monday.
The measure will protect and support the men’s and women’s national sevens and 15s programs, the body said.
Thursday, March 26
NCAA slashes distribution by $375 million
Canceling March Madness because of the coronavirus pandemic will cost the NCAA about $375 million that it would have distributed to 350 schools across the nation. Some will be able to absorb the losses better than others.
The NCAA announced Thursday it will distribute $225 million to its Division I member schools in June, nearly two-thirds less than the $600 million scheduled to be handed out in installments from April to June.
Schools that compete in the wealthiest conferences, with billion-dollar television contracts fueled by major college football, might not notice much of a difference in the short term. Schools competing in mid-major conferences are preparing to make sacrifices.
The NCAA pulled in more than $1 billion in revenue last year, including $867.5 million from the television and marketing rights for the Division I men’s basketball tournament. But March Madness was canceled March 19, a week before the first round was scheduled to begin.
Indianapolis 500 rescheduled to Aug. 23
The 104th Indianapolis 500, which was originally set for May 24, has been rescheduled for Aug. 23 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced.
“The Month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is my favorite time of year, and like our fans, I am disappointed that we have had to reschedule the Indianapolis 500,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske said in a statement. “However, the health and safety of our event participants and spectators is our top priority, and we believe that postponing the event is the responsible decision with the conditions and restrictions we are facing.”
Prior to race day, on-track action will start with practice sessions on Aug. 12-13. That will be followed by more than a week of events, including qualifications on Aug. 15-16. A full NBC broadcast schedule will be released at a later date.
WNBA draft to be held virtually
The WNBA draft will be a virtual event this year.
The league announced Thursday that its draft will still be held April 17 as originally scheduled, but without players, fans or media in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The WNBA draft is a time to celebrate the exceptional athletes whose hard work and dreams are realized with their selections in the draft,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “Safeguarding the health and well-being of our prospects, players, employees, and everyone connected to our game as well as the general public is paramount.”
Logistics of the draft are still being worked out with ESPN although Engelbert confirmed she would announce the picks that night on the league’s broadcast partner’s network. The New York Liberty have the No. 1 pick.
Wednesday, March 25
NHL postpones draft and scouting combine
The NHL on Wednesday postponed three June events, including the draft, making them the latest of hockey’s dominoes to fall as the coronavirus pandemic puts a hold on sporting events.
The league cited “ongoing uncertainty resulting from the coronavirus” as reason for calling off the draft, which had been set for June 26 and 27 in Montreal. The timing and location of the draft and its lottery, as well as other details, will be announced once those events are finalized, the NHL statement said.
The scouting combine, originally set for June 1-6 in Buffalo, New York, and the annual awards gala, scheduled for June 10 in Las Vegas, were also postponed. New dates haven’t been set, but the statement added “the league looks forward to returning to Las Vegas in the future.”
Tuesday, March 24
Red Sox minor leaguer tests positive for coronavirus
A minor league player for the Boston Red Sox has tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting the team to close down its training complex in Fort Myers, Florida.
The Red Sox made the announcement Tuesday, a day after the positive diagnosis. The team didn’t identify the player, but said he was doing well.
Earlier this month, the New York Yankees said two of their minor leaguers had the virus. Those were the first two players affiliated with a big league organization known to test positive.
Major League Baseball has postponed opening day until at least mid-May because of the virus outbreak.
The Red Sox said their affected player was most recently at the spring training site on March 15. Boston said based on the timing of his test, it believed he most likely got the virus after leaving Fort Myers.
NHL extending isolation period for players and staff
The NHL is extending its recommendation for players and staff to self-isolate and stay away from team facilities during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly on Tuesday confirmed the NHL has asked that players and staff extend their self-quarantine 10 days beyond the original March 27 timeline to April 6 — further pushing back the earliest team facilities can reopen.
The league over the past two days has held conference calls with its Board of Governors and general managers to inform them about and take questions regarding the current situation. Daly told The Associated Press by email the calls provided updates on various issues.
There is still no clarity on when the NHL might resume its season, though the CDC’s recommendation of no gatherings of 50 or more people until mid-May is expected to factor into timing. The league and Players’ Association told players they could go home and self-isolate until the end of March.
76ers reverse course and commit to paying employees
The NBA has been acutely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s March 11 decision to suspend the season was a landmark moment that started a ripple affect in sports. He stopped games when Jazz center Rudy Gobert became one of the first prominent athletes to publicly announce he contracted the virus.
In the days since, NBA teams and athletes helped league employees in need, including the Bulls paying United Center employees through the remainder of the season and Zach LaVine providing 12,500 meals in Seattle.
But in a time when many have chipped in, 76ers owner Josh Harris took different measures. He pledged to pay hourly employees through the remainder of the season but asked salaried workers to take a 20% paycut.
After Harris’ decision was roundly criticized on social media and from within the 76ers organization, he reversed course and committed to paying his staff. Public responses from 76ers center Joel Embiid and co-owner Michael Rubin likely played a part in the decision.
“After listening to our staff and players, it’s clear that was the wrong decision. We have reversed it and will be paying these employees their full salary,” Harris told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski in a statement.
Monday, March 23
Champions League final postponed
UEFA formally postponed the Champions League final on Monday — an inevitable move with European soccer in total shutdown and four Round of 16 games yet to be completed.
The final was scheduled for May 30 in Istanbul before the spreading coronavirus pandemic forced the four remaining second-leg games on March 17-18 to be delayed indefinitely.
UEFA said no decision has yet been made on finding a new date.
The shutdown has no end in sight, though UEFA and European soccer leaders said last week they hope to complete the club season by June 30.
The 2020 European Championship for national teams was postponed for one year to clear space in the fixture calendar for clubs to win titles in domestic leagues and cups, and UEFA’s competitions.
UEFA said the Europa League final, due on May 27 in Gdansk, Poland, and the Women’s Champions League final, scheduled for May 24 in Vienna, Austria, were also postponed.
Saturday, March 21
Men’s hockey worlds canceled
Health concerns and travel bans closing international borders stemming from the new coronavirus pandemic left the International Ice Hockey Federation with no choice but to cancel the men’s world hockey championships.
The decision to cancel the 16-team tournament to be held in Switzerland in May was formally announced Saturday, and essentially wipes out the IIHF’s entire spring calendar of world championship of events.
The governing body previously canceled the women’s world hockey championships set to be held in Canada and the men’s Under-18 championship to be played in Michigan next month.
Thursday, March 19
NBA shutters facilities indefinitely
The number of known coronavirus cases within the NBA doubled to 14 on Thursday, when Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics pleaded with people to take social distancing more seriously and the league ordered all teams to shutter their training facilities indefinitely.
Smart revealed that he tested positive and the Los Angeles Lakers said two of their players tested positive as well, bringing the number of players who have acquired the virus to 10. The Philadelphia 76ers said three members of their organization tested positive and the Denver Nuggets said someone within their franchise was positive as well.
The 76ers and Nuggets did not say if the affected people were players, coaches or other staff.
The league wants its teams to keep distance as well. Earlier Thursday, the NBA sent a memo to teams telling them to close their training and practice facilities to all players and staff — plus recommending that players “take aggressive measures to avoid contact with others and remain home as much as possible, leaving only for essential activities.”
MLS pushes season back to May 10
Major League Soccer is targeting a May 10 return to play and will consider pushing back its championship game by a month into December.
After announcing a 30-day suspension last week because of the new coronavirus, the league said Thursday it will follow last weekend’s recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to not hold events involving more than 50 people for eight weeks.
“MLS remains focused on playing the entire 2020 season and is evaluating all options, including pushing back the end of the season and playing MLS Cup in December, as the league did prior to the 2019 season,” the league said in a statement.
The MLS championship game had been scheduled for Nov 7.
Wednesday, March 18
Senators player tests positive for coronavirus
An Ottawa Senators player has tested positive for the new coronavirus, the first known case in the NHL.
The team announced late Tuesday that an unidentified player had tested positive for COVID-19. The Senators said the player has mild symptoms, is in isolation and that they were notifying anyone who had close contact with him.
Ottawa players, coaches and others have been advised to remain isolated, monitor their health and seek advice from team medical staff. It was not immediately clear if any others around the team had been tested, and the NHL is not mandating that.
Coronavirus hits Spanish La Liga soccer teams
Spanish soccer team Alaves said Wednesday that 15 people in its club have become infected with the coronavirus: three players, seven members of the coaching staff and five other employees.
The club had already reported that two members of its staff were infected.
Rival teams Valencia and Espanyol said earlier this week that their clubs have also been hit by the virus.
Tuesday, March 17
NASCAR stars sign on for esports series
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch and other NASCAR drivers have signed on to race in an exhibition esports series while their cars are kept off the tracks amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
NASCAR and iRacing announced the formation of the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series on Tuesday night, trying to give fans alternative viewing with the NASCAR season on hold until at least May 3.
The multi-week series will start Sunday with a virtual competition at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Remaining races and broadcast details are expected to be announced at a later date.
Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell will also be among those competing. A one-off simulation event was held last weekend after a race at Atlanta Motor Speedway was postponed. Josh Williams, spotter for Ryan Blaney, won that race, which also featured Earnhardt and Hamlin.
“Until we have cars back on track, the entire NASCAR community has aligned to provide our passionate fans with a unique, fun and competitive experience on race day,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’S vice president of racing development. “Our longtime partners at iRacing offer an incredible product and we are excited to see how many of our best drivers will stack up in the virtual domain of competitive racing.”
ACC, SEC cancel spring competitions
The Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference canceled all spring athletic competitions Tuesday due to the coronavirus, joining the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 in putting an end to their sports seasons.
The ACC last week suspended all its athletic activities indefinitely, not long after it canceled its men’s basketball tournament. It took the next step Tuesday and shut everything down, putting an end to any possibility of schools holding spring football practice.
A few hours later, the SEC became the last of the Power Five conferences to cancel all spring sports competitions, including spring football games and football pro scouting days. The SEC’s suspension of athletic-related activities, including individual and team practices, remains in place through at least April 15.
In the Big Ten, all competitions are canceled and all organized team activities have been suspended until April 6 and will be re-evaluated at that time.
2nd Yankees player tests positive for COVID-19
A second New York Yankees minor leaguer has tested positive for the new coronavirus.
The player, while in self-quarantine, reported fatigue and an elevated temperature to medical personnel with the Yankees, according to the team. The player was tested Sunday and returned to self-quarantine after the positive result.
“We can also report that within the past 48 hours his symptoms have dissipated,” the team said.
New York had announced a first positive test on Sunday, and general manager Brian Cashman said the player had been isolated and the Florida Department of Health notified.
The two Yankees minor leaguers are the only baseball players known to have tested positive.
PGA Championship postponed
First the Masters, now the PGA Championship.
The PGA Championship is being postponed, a person involved in the discussions told The Associated Press. It was scheduled for May 14-17 at Harding Park in San Francisco. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the decision has not been announced.
It follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation that events of 50 people or more not be held for eight weeks. That would last until the Sunday before the PGA Championship.
San Francisco now is among six counties in the Bay Area where residents are ordered to venture outside only when necessary for the next three weeks.
There was no indication when the PGA Championship would be played, or if it would remain in San Francisco.
Shortly after the PGA Championship announcement, the PGA Tour said it was canceling an additional four tournaments on its schedule — the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the AT&T Byron Nelson in Dallas.
French Open postponed until September
The French Open tennis tournament was postponed for about four months because of the coronavirus pandemic, shifting from May to September.
Main-draw matches for the clay-court tournament at Roland Garros in Paris were scheduled to begin on May 24.
This is the first instance of a Grand Slam tournament being affected by the virus that has spread around the world. The next major tennis championship currently on the calendar is Wimbledon, which is slated to start in late June in England.
The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, a combined men’s and women’s event considered the sport’s fifth major, was the first significant change to the tennis calendar when its postponement was announced March 8 because of COVID-19.
Last week, the men’s and women’s professional tennis tours began announcing cancellations of various tournaments in response to the viral outbreak.
Kentucky Derby postponed until September
The Kentucky Derby is being postponed from May to September because of growing concern about the coronavirus pandemic.
Churchill Downs will postpone the Derby from May 2 to Sept. 5, marking the first time in 75 years that the race won’t be run on the first Saturday in May.
The last time the Derby wasn’t held on the first Saturday in May was in 1945, when the federal government issued a ban on horse racing because of World War II. The ban was lifted on May 8, and the Derby was held on June 9. The only other year the Derby wasn’t held in May was in 1901, when it was raced on April 29.
The Derby is the latest major sporting event to be postponed or canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak, joining the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments and the Masters golf tournament. Professional basketball, baseball and hockey leagues also have suspended their seasons.
Monday, March 16
UFC postpones next 3 events
The UFC has postponed its next three scheduled events through April 11, finally giving up on President Dana White’s plan to keep fighting amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The UFC will not hold its show scheduled for Saturday, which was initially slated to be held in a full arena in London. The UFC also won’t hold shows scheduled for March 28 and April 11.
“It’s just impossible,” White said on ESPN, the UFC’s broadcast partner. “We can’t do it.”
White insists he will hold UFC 249 on April 18, although he doesn’t have a venue for it. Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is scheduled to fight Tony Ferguson in the promotion’s biggest pay-per-view show of the spring.
NASCAR suspends season until May
NASCAR has suspended its season until May as part of the CDC’s recommendation to postpone gatherings for the next eight weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision came after at least two Monday conference calls between the sanctioning body and its team owners. It affects seven total races — Atlanta and Homestead had already been postponed.
The series plans to return to the track at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia on May 9.
“We intend to hold all 36 races this season, with future rescheduling soon to be determined as we continue to monitor this situation closely with public health officials and medical experts,” NASCAR said. “What is important now transcends the world of sports and our focus is on everyone’s safety and well-being as we navigate this challenging time together.”
NASCAR first said it would run last weekend and this coming weekend without spectators, but reversed course Friday and postponed the races at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
NASCAR had not addressed anything beyond Homestead until Monday’s announcement.
Sports in Britain grind to a halt
Sports in Britain virtually ground to a halt on Monday as the government ramped up its efforts to tackle the coronavirus by advising against mass gatherings in the country.
The iconic Grand National Steeplechase, the Oxford vs. Cambridge university boat race, all levels of rugby union and rugby league, and the lower levels in soccer were among the remaining events or competitions to be canceled or suspended amid the pandemic.
Elite soccer, such as the widely watched English Premier League, had already been suspended last week after individuals at clubs tested positive for the virus.
But Monday marked a significant shift in the government’s position, with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson advising the public to take extra steps in the face of the virus. Britain has had 1,543 confirmed cases and 53 virus-related deaths.
NHL further delays possible season restart
The NHL is pushing back the possibility of resuming its season by several weeks, if not a month or more.
The league and NHL Players’ Association told players Monday they can go home — even out of North America — and must self-isolate through March 27 while the season is on hold amid the coronavirus pandemic. But the NHL also cautioned that it will not be able to even provide guidance on the potential reopening of team practices for another 45 days, which could push any potential return to play into May.
The new directives come on the heels of the CDC’s recommendation against gatherings of 50 or more people in the U.S. for the next eight weeks. The NHL said “depending on world developments,” consideration will be given to reopening facilities after the self-quarantine period ends in late March but practices for the 31 teams would not happen late April — at the earliest.
MLB pushes opening day back again
Major League Baseball pushed back opening day until mid-May at the earliest on Monday because of the new coronavirus after the federal government recommended restricting events of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement following a conference call with executives of the 30 teams.
“The clubs remain committed to playing as many games as possible when the season begins,” the commissioner’s office said in a statement.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Sunday that gatherings of 50 people or more be canceled or postponed across the country for the next eight weeks.
MLB called off the rest of the spring training schedule on Thursday and said opening day, which had been scheduled for March 26, was postponed for at least two weeks. Teams and players agree that two to four weeks of additional spring training will be needed before the regular season begins.
The Major League Baseball Players Association sent an email to agents on Monday saying that for players who went home or to their team’s regular-season city it would pay $1,100 allowances through April 9 to players on 40-man rosters as of March 13. That amount also would go to players with minor league contracts at big league spring training who were on 40-man rosters at the end of last season.
The union also is negotiating with MLB over resetting the dates for players with opt-out clauses in their deals. The sides also are likely to agree on a roster freeze.
This year marked the earliest opening day other than for international games. As it stood, Game 7 of the World Series would have been Oct. 28, and teams and players could push the postseason into November.
Any change to the 162-game schedule would necessitate bargaining over an array of issues, including when and how much players get paid and how much major league service they are credited for. Service time determines eligibility for free agency and salary arbitration.
NFL draft events canceled
The NFL will proceed with its draft but without public events next month in Las Vegas. It’s not yet clear, however, if the draft itself will be held in the city.
Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday the draft will take place April 23-25 as scheduled, but under a modified format still being developed. The draft will be televised regardless of its venue or format.
“In consideration of current information related to COVID-19 and guidance from medical experts such as the CDC, and in coordination with public authorities in Nevada and the city of Las Vegas, the NFL will modify its plans” the league said in a statement.
The NFL says it is exploring “innovative options” for how the process will be handled and will provide that information as it becomes available.
“This decision reflects our foremost priority: the health and safety of all fans and citizens,” Goodell said. “While this outcome is disappointing both to the NFL and to the Las Vegas community, we look forward to partnering with the Raiders, the city of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for a future NFL draft as well as evaluating opportunities for other major NFL events in Las Vegas in the future, including the Super Bowl.”
Sunday, March 15
Timberwolves star donates $100K to Mayo clinic
Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns has announced he’ll donate $100,000 to the Mayo Clinic for testing for the COVID-19 virus.
The Minnesota-based medical system said it expects the money from Towns will help increase capacity for COVID-19 from 200 tests per day to more than 1,000 per day in the coming weeks.
The Mayo Clinic has been working for the past month on developing its own test for the virus to supplement other existing avenues.
Hornets to pay part-time employees through scheduled season
Hornets owner Michael Jordan and the team’s players have partnered to establish a fund to provide financial assistance to the organization’s part-time employees adversely affected by the loss of games and events due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Payments from the fund will assist more than 500 part-time staff.
The fund will impact employees who serve in various capacities during games and events, including ushers, ticket takers, box office attendants, entertainers, public safety officers, retail staff, guest services personnel, technical operations and others.
The part-time staff for the Hornets will be compensated through the end of the scheduled NBA season on April 13. There also will be assistance for part-time employees working Spectrum Center concerts and Greensboro Swarm part-time staff through the end of March.
Yankees minor leaguer tests positive
A minor leaguer for the New York Yankees has tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the first known player affiliated with Major League Baseball to contract COVID-19.
The team said Sunday the unidentified player had spent his entire time at the minor-league complex and hadn’t been over at the main stadium and facilities used by the major leaguers.
Yankees player representative Zack Britton recently said the team had voted to remain together in Tampa and continue voluntary workouts. In the wake of the virus outbreak, Major League Baseball and the union had given players the option to stay at the site of their spring camp, return to their offseason homes or go to the club’s home city.
MLB is expected to update teams on its policy Monday.
Saturday, March 14
Baseball Hall of Fame closes
The Baseball Hall of Fame said it will close to the public beginning Sunday at 5 p.m.
The Cooperstown, New York, shrine will provide updated information regarding this closure on each subsequent Sunday.
Bulls, Blackhawks will pay United Center workers
The United Center ownership and the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks say they will pay day-of-game employees through the end of their scheduled seasons.
The NBA and NHL seasons have been suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic. Each team has seven home games left.
In a statement attributed to Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, the teams say their employees “are family, and we will navigate this unprecedented situation together.”
Pro Football Hall of Fame closes
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is closing temporarily because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The museum in Canton, Ohio says it will be closed to the public from Monday through March 27. The Hall says it “will continue to closely monitor the situation and maintain ongoing communication with state and local health officials.”
XFL player tests positive for coronavirus
The XFL says an unidentified player with the Seattle Dragons has tested positive for coronavirus.
The fledgling football league says the player reported his symptoms to team medical staff on Tuesday and has been in quarantine ever since. He was tested for COVID-19 and received the result Friday.
The league says the player participated in the Dragons’ March 7 game against the Roughnecks in Houston and a Feb. 29 game against the BattleHawks in St. Louis. He was asymptomatic at the time.
The league says it’s alerting players, staff, vendors and partners associated with the Dragons, Roughnecks and BattleHawks and is monitoring the situation closely.
Late Thursday, the XFL canceled the remainder of its season, which had five weeks left.
Curling championships canceled
The men’s curling world championships in Scotland have been canceled, along with the mixed and senior events in Canada, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The World Curling Federation said that with hundreds of athletes and staff needing to travel to each tournament, “it is no longer possible to run these international events.”
The WCF says it acted on the advice of the Scottish government in canceling the men’s tournament, which had been scheduled for Glasgow from March 28 to April 5.
“We believe that in the current unprecedented situation this is the only responsible course of action to take,” said Billy Garrett, Director of Sport and Events at Glasgow Life.
The mixed doubles and seniors events were to take place in Kelowna, British Columbia, from April 18-25.
The women’s world championships in Prince George, British Columbia, were canceled on Thursday.
Olympics still planned for July
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says his country still intends to host the Olympic Games in Tokyo as planned.
Abe says there were no discussions about postponing or canceling the games during talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested this week that Japan should consider postponing the Olympics because of the spread of the coronavirus.
Abe says Japan is continuing to “coordinate well” with the International Olympic Committee, adding: “We have to overcome the spread of the infection and want to hold the Olympics and Paralympics as planned.”
The Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 24-Aug. 9, and the Paralympics Aug. 25-Sept. 6.
Abe says the virus outbreak has not reached a point in Japan that requires him to declare a national emergency like the United States and parts of Europe.
Friday, March 13
NFL bans in-person, pre-draft visits
The NFL prohibited in-person, pre-draft visits between teams and prospects, starting Saturday, according to a league memo sent to all 32 teams.
Draft-eligible players are not permitted to travel to a club facility or other location to meet with team personnel, and team personnel may not travel to college campuses or any other location for such a meeting.
However, teams may speak with prospects by telephone or video conference for interviews.
Teams can conduct three such interviews with an individual draft-eligible player per week. The conversations may last no longer than an hour. The NFL stated in the memo that any personnel who violated the restrictions would be subject to league discipline.
The league said it also was working to disseminate medical information on prospects to the teams.
Several NFL teams, including the Bears, announced Thursday they would pull their coaches and scouts from traveling as a precautionary measure amid coronavirus concerns.
Some teams were still conducting in-person business before the restrictions were announced. A Southern Illinois University official said eight teams attended their pro day Thursday. And NFL Network reported the Dolphins hosted Utah State quarterback Jordan Love for a visit Friday.
The memo apparently did not address any changes or restrictions to the free agency negotiating period, which starts Monday. Teams may begin signing free agents Wednesday, when the new league year is also set to begin.
NASCAR postpones upcoming races
NASCAR announced the postponement of its next two races in Atlanta and Miami.
“We believe this decision is in the best interest of the safety and well-being of our fans, competitors, officials and everyone associated with our sport,” NASCAR said in a statement. “We will continue to monitor this dynamic situation as we assess future race events.”
Meanwhile, IndyCar has canceled its next four races.
Augusta National postpones the Masters
Augusta National announced next month’s Masters golf tournament is postponed.
“Considering the latest information and expert analysis, we have decided at this time to postpone the Masters Tournament, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals,” Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, said in a statement.
Premier League and Champions League suspend play
The Premier League and the Champions League were both suspended Friday as the chaos stemming from the coronavirus outbreak continues to impact soccer.
Matches in England will be stopped until at least April 3 after five Premier League clubs said some players or staff were in self-isolation. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for the virus, as has Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi.
UEFA said it was stopping next week’s games in all competitions, including the two remaining Champions League matches which had not been already called off — Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea and Barcelona vs. Napoli, both scheduled for Wednesday.
Games involving Juventus and Real Madrid had already been postponed because those clubs quarantined their players.
Formula One races called off
The Bahrain and Vietnam Grand Prix races were postponed, the third and fourth races of the Formula One season to be called off.
Bahrain was scheduled for next week — at an empty track — and the inaugural Vietnamese GP in Hanoi on April 5.
Thursday, March 12
PGA Tour shuts down tournaments
The PGA Tour decided Thursday night to scrap the rest of The Players Championship and shut down its other tournaments for the next three weeks.
Commissioner Jay Monahan had said earlier Thursday there would be no fans at the TPC Sawgrass for the final three rounds, or at the next three tournaments on the PGA Tour schedule.
The tour changed its mind late Thursday.
NFL teams curtail or stop scouting
NFL teams are curtailing or completely stopping scouting operations as a safeguard against the spread of the new coronavirus.
The Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets are among those that have ordered their scouts and assistant coaches to return home in what typically is a busy time for evaluating college players. The NFL draft is scheduled for April 23-25 in Las Vegas.
Many teams have told employees to work remotely.
The University of Michigan, Penn State, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M are among schools that called off or suspended pro days on Thursday. Other schools still plan to hold theirs — or make decisions pending developments.
NFL teams also are either limiting or eliminating facility visits by draft prospects. So are player agents.
“As an agent, it’s my strong recommendation that my players don’t travel for any team visits,” Mike McCartney tweeted. “With 12 or more games played, an All-Star game and Combine for most, teams have enough information to make an informed draft decision.”
NFL teams can bring in to their facilities for visits up to 30 players heading to the draft, though there are some exceptions for players from local schools.
Also Thursday, Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league’s main annual meetings have been canceled. They were scheduled for March 29-April 1 in Palm Beach, Florida, and were to include owners voting on potential rules changes.
Instead, those major decisions will be made at the May 19-20 spring meetings in Marina del Rey, California.
But the NFL’s business season will begin next Wednesday — as of now. That means the start of free agency and official trading. Of course, visits by free agents to team facilities figure to be limited if not nonexistent.
There’s also the matter of players’ union members voting on a new labor agreement that the owners approved last month. Some 2,500 members of the NFL Players Association face a deadline of 10:59 p.m. CT on Saturday.
There has been little talk of postponing or canceling the draft, though staging it in Las Vegas seems a long shot. The NFL says it is monitoring the situation. Holding the draft without fans as a televised event in a studio or conference hall could be an option.
NCAA Tournament canceled
NCAA cancels men’s and women’s Division I basketball tournaments amid coronavirus fears.
The annual March Madness event was scheduled to tip off with First Four games Tuesday and Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio, and run through the Final Four in Atlanta on April 4 and 6.
MLB suspending operations
Major League Baseball delayed the start of its season by at least two weeks because of the coronavirus outbreak and suspended the rest of its spring training schedule.
Opening day had been scheduled for March 26. The decision announced by Commissioner Rob Manfred left open whether each team would still play 162 games.
The announcement came while some spring training games in Florida were still in progress. MLB followed the NBA, NHL, MLS and college basketball tournaments in altering schedules because of the pandemic.
The minor league baseball season, which was to start April 9, also will be delayed along with qualifying in Arizona for this year’s Olympic baseball tournament and for next year’s World Baseball Classic.
“MLB and the clubs have been preparing a variety of contingency plans regarding the 2020 regular season schedule,” the commissioner’s office said in a statement. “MLB will announce the effects on the schedule at an appropriate time and will remain flexible as events warrant, with the hope of resuming normal operations as soon as possible.”
MLB had not had a mass postponement of openers since 1995, when the season was shortened from 162 games to 144 following a 7 1/2-month players’ strike that also wiped out the 1994 World Series. Opening day was pushed back from April 2 to April 26 and player salaries were reduced by 11.1% because the games were lost due to a strike.
After a 32-day spring training lockout in 1990 caused opening day to be delayed a week until April 9, the season was extended by three days to allow each team a full 162-game schedule.
Baseball’s first strike lasted from April 1-13 in 1972, and the season started April 15. Teams played 153-156 games.
This year marked the earliest opening day other than for international games. As it stood, Game 7 of the World Series would’ve been Oct. 28.
2nd NBA player tests positive
Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz confirmed that he has tested positive for the coronavirus, publicly saying that he is personally dealing with the pandemic that has temporarily shut down the NBA and other major sports leagues.
Mitchell is one of two NBA players to have tested positive: The other is his Jazz teammate Rudy Gobert, who was the first NBA player to test positive but has not publicly confirmed his diagnosis. Gobert’s test result was the one that prompted the NBA to indefinitely suspend the season.
Mitchell’s positive test was not known until early Thursday, the first full day of the NBA’s hiatus. Jazz players, staff and some beat writers covering the team were tested Wednesday night in Oklahoma City, where Utah was to play the Thunder in a game that was called off moments before tip-off once word about Gobert’s positive test was received.
Also Thursday, the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors — teams that have all recently played against Gobert, Mitchell and the Jazz — all said that they were having some players and staff self-quarantine for as many as 14 days. The Cleveland Cavaliers, another team that has recently faced Utah, said they are not mandating quarantines yet but would if any of their players exhibit troubling symptoms.
“Thanks to everyone who has been reaching out since hearing the news about my positive test,” Mitchell wrote in an Instagram post. “We are all learning more about the seriousness of this situation and hopefully people can continue to educate themselves and realize that they need to behave responsibly both for their own health and for the well being of those around them.”
NHL pausing play
The NHL is following the NBA’s lead and suspending its season.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the pause of the season amid concerns about the new coronavirus. The NBA announced Wednesday night it was suspending play, after a player tested positive for COVID-19.
Several NBA and NHL teams share arenas.
The NHL has not said any player has tested positive for COVID-19. The league is halting play with 189 games left in the regular season, sparking uncertainty about how many more, if any, could be played before the playoffs.
Bettman said the NHL has tried to follow mandates of health experts and local authorities without taking premature or unnecessary measures.” Bettman’s statement said the NBA’s news made it “no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at this time.”
Basketball tournaments canceled
Several college basketball conference tournaments have been canceled moments before tipoff, putting the NCAA Tournament at risk.
The Big Ten, Big 12, Big East and the SEC tournaments announced they were off, and other conferences were expected to follow suit.
As several other big conferences around the country canceled their postseason tournaments, the Big East resumed on schedule at New York’s Madison Square Garden. It started its second-round game between top-seeded Creighton and St. John’s at Madison Square Garden and not until halftime was the tournament called off with St. John’s leading 38-35.
The men’s NCAA Tournament is one of the most popular events on the American sports calendar. March Madness draws hundreds of thousands of fans to arenas from coast to coast.
PGA Tour to carry on without spectators for the next month
The PGA Tour plans to keep playing, just without anyone watching from outside the ropes.
Commissioner Jay Monahan said that fans will not be allowed at the final three days of The Players Championship or three other tournaments — one in Florida, two in Texas — leading up to the Masters.
Even as other leagues were canceling tournaments and events for a month or more, Monahan leaned on golf not being a contact sport and being played outdoors across sprawling acreage as a reason not to shut down entirely.
“Our players are making their way over 400 acres,” Monahan said. “Because of the nature of that … and over the course of a round our players generally do socially distance themselves, we felt like by taking this step to address the problem with our fans, we’re in a position where we can continue to operate the events as of right now.
“We’re comfortable having our players continue to play at this time.”
MLS shutting down
Major League Soccer is shutting down for 30 days because of the coronavirus.
“Our clubs were united today in the decision to temporarily suspend our season — based on the advice and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Agency of Canada and other public health authorities,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement Thursday.
US Soccer cancels men’s and women’s national team matches
The U.S. Soccer Federation canceled exhibitions in March and April for its men’s and women’s national teams but says for now the under-23 men’s team will remain in Mexico for Olympic qualifying.
The men had been scheduled to play the Netherlands in Eindhoven on March 26 and Wales four days later in Cardiff, preparation for the scheduled start of World Cup qualifying in September.
The women had been slated to face Australia at Sandy, Utah, on April 10 and Brazil four days later at San Jose, California, as they get ready for the Olympics this summer.
The under-23 men’s team is in Guadalajara for the Olympic qualifying tournament of North and Central America and the Caribbean. The U.S. is to meet Haiti in an exhibition on March 13, then plays Costa Rica on March 20, the Dominican Republic three days later and Mexico on March 26. The top two teams in each group advance to the semifinals on March 30. The semifinal winners represent CONCACAF at the16-nation men’s Olympic tournament.
The next scheduled match for the men’s national team is against Honduras in Houston on June 4 in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Northwestern cancels watch party
Northwestern has canceled the women’s basketball team’s NCAA Selection Monday watch party at Welsh-Ryan Arena on March 16.
The Wildcats, who won the Big Ten regular-season title, are ranked No. 12 in the most recent AP poll. They are looking to play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015.
“The proliferation of COVID-19 around the world is a situation evolving rapidly and constantly,” the team posted in its link to information about the party. “Northwestern University is taking action and offering guidance to keep our community as safe as possible as this unfolds.”
— Colleen Kane
Real Madrid teams put in quarantine
Real Madrid’s soccer and basketball teams were put in quarantine on after one of the club’s basketball players tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Spanish club said that its soccer team was affected because it shares training facilities with the basketball team.
The decision by the club came moments before the Spanish league said the next two rounds of the top two soccer divisions will be suspended because of outbreak. The league said in a statement that it had taken the decision after becoming aware of “the quarantine established in Real Madrid and the possible cases in players from other clubs,” without mentioning those suspected cases.
No player from a Spanish soccer team has been reported to have the virus.
Italian club Juventus said Wednesday that defender Daniele Rugani and “those who have had contact with him” are being isolated after he tested positive for the virus.
Olympic flame lit in Athens, Greece
The flame for the Tokyo Olympics was lit at the birthplace of the ancient games in a pared-down ceremony because of the coronavirus.
Standing in front of the ruined Temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia, a Greek actress playing the part of a pagan priestess used a concave mirror to focus the sun’s rays on a silver torch, causing fire to spurt forth.
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach noted the “difficult circumstances” created by the virus outbreak, but stressed the IOC’s commitment to the success of the Tokyo Games.
“Nineteen weeks before the opening ceremony, we are strengthened in this commitment by the many authorities and sports organisations around the world which are taking so many significant measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus,” Bach said.
The IOC has stressed that the July 24-Aug. 9 games will go ahead as planned — even as sports events in various countries are being curtailed or held without spectators — and urged all athletes to continue to prepare for the Olympics.
But fears of the coronavirus forced Greek officials to ban members of the public from attending the ceremony and severely curtail the number of invited officials and journalists. Normally, several thousand people from many countries gather on the earthen banks of Olympia’s ancient stadium to watch the ceremony.
Wednesday, March 11
NBA suspending its season after player test positive for coronavirus
The NBA has suspended its season “until further notice” after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus, a move that came only hours after the majority of the league’s owners were leaning toward playing games without fans in arenas.
Now there will be no games at all, at least for the time being. A person with knowledge of the situation said the Jazz player who tested positive was center Rudy Gobert.
“The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice,” the league said in a statement sent shortly after 8:30 p.m. CT. “The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.”
The test result, the NBA said, was reported shortly before the scheduled tip-off time for the Utah at Oklahoma City game on Wednesday night was called off. Players were on the floor for warmups and tip-off was moments away when they were told to return to their locker rooms. About 30 minutes later, fans were told the game was postponed “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
“It’s a very serious time right now,” Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I think the league moved appropriately and prudently and we’ll all just have to monitor the situation and see where it goes from here.”
The Jazz released a statement saying a player — they did not identify Gobert — tested negative earlier Wednesday for flu, strep throat and an upper respiratory infection. That player’s symptoms diminished as the day went along, but the decision was made to test for COVID-19 anyway. That test came back with a preliminary positive result.
“The individual is currently in the care of health officials in Oklahoma City,” the Jazz said, adding that updates would come as appropriate.
It has been a worldwide issue for several weeks. And now, it has hit the NBA.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he was stunned when the news came down, adding that “this is much bigger than basketball.”
“This is a global pandemic where people’s lives are at stake,” Cuban said. “I’m a lot more worried about my kids, and my mom is 82 years old, and talking to her, and telling her to stay in the house, than I am about when we play our next game.”
Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego, speaking before his team’s game at Miami, said “these are scary times.”
Rapidly evolving times, as well. Around 7 p.m., a person with knowledge of the situation told AP that owners — who met by teleconference Wednesday — were largely in support of a plan to play games in empty arenas on a short-term basis.
About an hour later, the Thunder-Jazz game was halted before tip-off. And about 90 minutes after that, the season was called off, effective when the last whistle was to blow Wednesday night.
That came even earlier than planned: The last game of the night’s six-game slate, New Orleans at Sacramento, was called off as well because one of the referees assigned to work that Pelicans-Kings game, Courtney Kirkland, worked a Utah game on Monday.
“The game was canceled out of an abundance of caution,” the NBA said.
There are 259 games, roughly 21% of the schedule, left to play this season — and no one knows if, or when, things will resume.
Also shut down: The G League, the NBA’s minor league where teams have somewhere between six and nine games left on their 50-game schedules.
NCAA Tournament will be played without fans; Big Ten Tournament, too, starting Thursday
NCAA President Mark Emmert says NCAA Division I basketball tournament games will not be open to the general public because of concerns about the spread of coronavirus.
Emmert said in a statement that he made the decision to conduct both the men’s and women’s tournaments, which begin next week, with only essential staff and limited family in attendance. The decision comes after the NCAA’s COVID-19 advisory panel of medical experts recommended against playing sporting events open to the general public.
Later Wednesday, the Big Ten announced its men’s basketball tournament, which began with two games Wednesday evening, will be played without fans starting Thursday.
Attendance at the rest of the games “will be limited to student-athletes, coaches, event staff, essential team and conference staff, TV network partners, credentialed media and immediate family members of the participating teams,” the conference said in a statement.
The Big Ten said that it will refund all tickets, including to Wednesday’s session, and that fans should direct refund inquiries to the original point of purchase.
Emmert said the NCAA also was looking into moving the men’s Final Four from Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium to a smaller arena.
The 68-team field for the men’s tournament is scheduled to be announced Sunday and the 64-team women’s tournament field is to be unveiled Monday. Games begin Tuesday and Wednesday on the men’s side in Dayton, Ohio, where earlier Wednesday the governor said he would issue an order to restrict spectator access to indoor sporting events.
The Mid-American Conference on Tuesday announced it was closing its men’s and women’s basketball tournament games at Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, home of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and scheduled site of the men’s NCAA games, to the general public. The women’s tournament started Wednesday.
The Big West Conference announced a similar move, not allowing the general public into its basketball tournament games to be played this week at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Conference college basketball tournaments are in full swing across the country this week. The Atlantic Coast Conference is in Day 2 of its five-day men’s tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina, and the Pac-12 played the first game of its tournament in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Later Wednesday, the Southeastern Conference was to begin its men’s tournament in Nahsville, Tennessee; the Big East was set to start at Madison Square Garden in New York; and the Big Ten was also scheduled to tip off in Indianapolis. There were no plans to restrict fan access to those events.
March Madness hits another level next week with the start of the NCAA Tournament to crown a national champion, one of the most popular events on the American sports calendar.
There are eight first- and second-round sites for the men’s tournament, scheduled to be played March 19-22. Locations include Cleveland; Spokane, Washington; Albany, New York; Sacramento, California; and Omaha, Nebraska. The four regional sites for the second weekend of the tournament are Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Houston and New York. The Final Four is scheduled to be held in at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with the semifinals on April 4 and the championship game April 6.
The women’s tournament first- and second-round games begin March 21 and will be played at 16 sites, mostly on or close the campuses of the top seeded teams. The regionals will be played in Dallas, Greenville, South Carolina; Portland, Oregon; and Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Final Four will be held in New Orleans on April 3 and 5.
Ohio order to affect NCAA First Four games
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he will be issuing an order regarding “mass gatherings” due to the coronavirus that will affect NCAA Tournament games in Cleveland and Dayton.
DeWine says the order will include banning spectators from games and that he’ll be asking people to make “informed decisions.”
During a news conference Wednesday, DeWine said he will issue an order in the next 24 to 36 hours. Dayton will host the NCAA’s First Four next week at Dayton Arena, and first- and second-round games will be held in Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
“The order will be that there cannot be spectators there,” DeWine said. “There certainly will be people — there will be TV people, there can be radio people there, there can be sports writers, certainly can be the media there. But we’re not going to have the large crowd.”
DeWine applauded the Mid-American Conference for closing its tournament games to the general public this week.
World Figure Skating Championships canceled
The World Figure Skating Championships set for next week in Montreal have been canceled due to public health concerns.
The event was scheduled to bring nearly 200 skaters from more than 50 countries to Montreal. It is the premier competition of the skating season in non-Olympic years.
On Saturday, the Women’s World Hockey Championships in Nova Scotia were called off.
Lightfoot monitoring Chicago’s sporting events
Professional sports games will continue as usual in Chicago, at least for the time being.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she spoke Wednesday with “all the major sports teams” in Chicago. With opening day games coming up for the Cubs and White Sox, Lightfoot said she’s talking to team officials, but they’re “not there yet” on restricting access, even as soccer games in Italy are being held in empty stadiums because of the virus.
“We’re mindful of the fact that the Fire (home opener) is on March 21st, and that opening day for the two sports teams, obviously the Blackhawks and the Bulls are playing,” Lightfoot said. “This is something that we are in conversation with them about. And we’re looking, and as the situation evolves we will be continuing those discussions on an ongoing basis. But we’re not there yet.”
— John Byrne
Warriors will play NBA’s 1st game without fans
San Francisco is banning all large gatherings of more than 1,000 people for the next two weeks and the Golden State Warriors intend to play at least one home game without fans.
Mayor London Breed announced the ban Wednesday. She says she understands the order “is disruptive, but it is an important step to support public health.” She says the Warriors are in support of the efforts, and the team announced it would host the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night with no fans, making it the first NBA game set to be played in an empty arena.
The Warriors’ next home game after that is March 25 against Atlanta.
Golden State also said all events through March 21 would be canceled or postponed. The G League Santa Cruz Warriors were set to host the Austin Spurs on Saturday, but that will be moved to Santa Cruz.
Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics have canceled an exhibition game they’d scheduled against one another on March 24.
Seattle Mariners to move home games
The Mariners will move home games from Seattle through the end of March after the state of Washington’s decision to ban large group events in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Seattle had been scheduled to open the season at Safeco Field with a four-game series against Texas from March 26-29, then host Minnesota in a three-game series from March 30 through April 1.
The Mariners say they are working with the commissioner’s office on alternative plans.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday announced a ban on all large gatherings in the three counties of the Seattle metro area through at least the end of March.
That decision also applies to home games for the MLS Seattle Sounders, XFL Seattle Dragons and a pair of junior hockey teams in the area.
“We’re working through the alternatives right now,” Mariners owner John Stanton said at the team’s spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz. “We think the alternatives include playing in Seattle in an empty stadium, playing in the home park of our opponents — in this case the Rangers and the Twins — or playing at a neutral park in Peoria.”
Stanton said he hoped to have an answer on where the team will play the first two series by Friday. He said it’s unlikely the Mariners would play in Seattle in front of an empty stadium.
MLB could shift the Rangers-Mariners four-game series to Texas. The Rangers are set to open a retractable-roof stadium this year, and general manager Jon Daniels said this week the park would be ready if need be.
“Everything’s being discussed, all potential contingency plans,” Daniels said at Rangers camp in Surprise, Ariz.
The restrictions do not include Spokane, where NCAA Tournament games are scheduled to take place next week. The men’s first and second rounds are being played at the Spokane Arena, while early rounds of the women’s tournament could end up being played on campus at Gonzaga.
Health official recommends no fans at NBA games
The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told a congressional committee that he would recommend the NBA not allow fans at games in response to the coronavirus.
That answer by Dr. Anthony Fauci came hours before NBA owners are scheduled to meet to discuss the next steps in responding to the growing concern about the virus.
Fauci was responding to a question from Rep. Glenn Grothman, a Wisconsin Republican, during a meeting of the House Oversight Committee. Grothman asked, “Is the NBA underreacting or is the Ivy League overreacting?” He was referencing how the Ivy League recently canceled its basketball tournaments, instead of having them played without fans in attendance or keeping the status quo.
“We would recommend that there not be large crowds,” Fauci said. “If that means not having any people in the audience when the NBA plays, so be it. But as a public health official, anything that has crowds is something that would give a risk to spread.”
CBI canceled
The College Basketball Invitational — the third NCAA basketball tournament — has been canceled “due to the uncertainty about the coronavirus and the impact it is having on college campuses across the country.”
MLB prefers teams flip sites if coronavirus shuts down ballparks
If Major League Baseball can’t play in front of fans at a team’s home ballpark because of the virus outbreak, the sport’s first preference likely would be to switch games to the visiting team’s stadium if possible, a person familiar with the deliberations told The Associated Press.
MLB starts its season on March 26. Among the games on opening day is Texas at Seattle — the Seattle area has been hit hard by the virus, with 24 deaths.
MLB anticipates government officials will decide whether it is safe to play in front of fans in each city. If changes to the schedule are necessary, MLB would make determinations at the point when a ballpark has been ruled out.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee plans to ban gatherings and events of more than 250 people in virtually the entire Seattle area, a person familiar with the decision told the AP on Tuesday night.
Inslee scheduled a news conference for late Wednesday morning. The Mariners and MLB had no immediate comment.
“I hope it doesn’t turn into us missing games or pushing scheduled games back,” Orioles first baseman Chris Davis said.
Flipping home and road dates is easier to do at the start of the season, when there are many series between teams who face each other later in the year.
The Rangers are scheduled to open Globe Life Field, their new retractable roof ballpark, against the Angels on March 31. Texas general manager Jon Daniels said Monday there hadn’t been any discussion with MLB or the Mariners about swapping home dates for that opening series between AL West rivals, but said the new ballpark would be ready if it is needed.
Exhibition games against St. Louis are scheduled at the new stadium on March 23 and 24.
Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos said Tuesday he is “a little bit” concerned about traveling to face the Mariners.
“I know the season starts in Seattle, and we know how Seattle is right now,” Chirinos said.
Tuesday, March 10
Mid-American, Big West conferences limit fans
On Tuesday, the Mid-American Conference said it was implementing a restricted attendance policy at its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in Cleveland this week. That announcement came on the heels of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recommending that all indoor sporting events in the state be played without spectators on site.
The Northern Illinois men’s team faces Miami (Ohio) in Thursday’s MAC Tournament quarterfinals.
The Big West said its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in Southern California will be played without spectators. Most of those game will be played at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Ohio governor recommends a fan ban
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recommended that fans be kept away from all indoor sporting events.
The state is home to the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, among others, and NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league will review the situation. The state is also hosting a number of high school and collegiate tournaments this month and the first games of the NCAA men’s tournament — the First Four — are scheduled for next week in Dayton.
Tournaments canceled
The Ivy League is canceling its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
The four-team tournaments were scheduled to be played Friday through Sunday at Lavietes Pavilion in Cambridge. The Ivy League says it will award its automatic NCAA Tournament bids to regular-season champions Princeton women and Yale men.
The league also announced it will limit spectators at all other sporting events for the rest of the spring season.
Monday, March 9
NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS close locker rooms
The NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS closed access to locker rooms and clubhouses to all nonessential personnel — including media — in response to the coronavirus crisis.
They said they made the decision “after consultation with infectious disease and public health experts.” The NBA, in a call with teams earlier Monday, stressed that the move is not to ban reporters but to ensure the safety of players and staff in those areas.
The statement, in part, read: “Given the issues that can be associated with close contact in pre- and post-game settings, all team locker rooms and clubhouses will be open only to players and essential employees of teams and team facilities until further notice. Media access will be maintained in designated locations outside of the locker room and clubhouse setting.”
It is unclear how long the new policies will last.
“Roses are red, Violets are blue, Wash your hands! WASH YOUR HANDS!” Enes Kanter of the Celtics wrote on Twitter.
The NBA held a call with team medical staffs later Monday night and scheduled a Wednesday call between league officials and team owners to discuss next steps. The NBA told teams last week to prepare for the possibility of playing games in empty arenas, something the game’s biggest star — Lakers forward LeBron James — insists he does not want to see.
It could happen in at least one NHL arena. Late Monday, California’s Santa Clara County announced a ban of all large gatherings of at least 1,000 people for the rest of the month. The policy would affect three Sharks home games, and the Sharks said in a statement they are reviewing their options. The team could play the games without fans, find a neutral site or play the games on the road.
Tennis tournament postponed in California
The BNP Paribas Open, the near-major tennis tournament set to begin this week in the California desert, won’t be played as scheduled after a case of coronavirus was confirmed in the Coachella Valley.
It’s the largest U.S. sporting event to be called off over concerns about the spread of the disease.
March 6
The Big Ten Network won’t send its studio show team to Indianapolis next week for the conference men’s basketball tournament.
BTN sources on Friday confirmed the decision to have network mainstay Dave Revsine and others do their tournament pregame, halftime and postgame programs, as well “The B1G Show,” from BTN’s Chicago headquarters.
The network intends to have a full contingent of announcers, analysts, crew and staff at Bankers Life Fieldhouse for the games beginning Wednesday, March 11.
Studio personnel are considered nonessential to on-site tournament coverage. One source said the network was acting out of “an abundance of caution.”
March 4
Chicago State canceled its men’s basketball road trip to Seattle and Utah Valley and said its women’s team would not host two Western Athletic Conference games against those same schools.
The cancellations are believed to be the first in a major sport in the United States due to the virus.
“While disappointed that the situation has evolved as it has, I fully respect the right of any member institution to determine what it believes to (be) in the best interest of its student-athletes,” WAC Commissioner Jeff Hurd said in a statement. “From a conference standpoint, the necessary adjustments will be made according to NCAA policy in order to bracket the conference tournament scheduled for March 11-14 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.”
Chicago State said in a statement it was making the move with the “health and well-being of the campus community in mind.”
Associated Press contributed to this report
