“March Madness” Tournament Will Be Played In Front Of No Fans, NCAA Says

As NBA mulls playing in front of empty stands, NCAA has confirmed that ‘March Madness’ will drastically limit attendance at its games.

NCAA President Mark Emmert statement on limiting attendance at NCAA events:

The NCAA continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 in consultation with public health officials and our COVID-19 advisory panel. Based on their advice and my discussions with the NCAA Board of Governors, I have made the decision to conduct our upcoming championship events, including the Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, with only essential staff and limited family attendance.

While I understand how disappointing this is for all fans of our sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States.

This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, most importantly, our student-athletes. We recognize the opportunity to compete in an NCAA national championship is an experience of a lifetime for the students and their families. Today, we will move forward and conduct championships consistent with the current information and will continue to monitor and make adjustments as needed.

This is just the latest sporting event to be impacted:

• Chinese Grand Prix slated for April has been postponed.
• Bahrain Grand Prix suspends ticket sales for March 22 event. 
• Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) canceled three upcoming tournaments across Asia.
• FIFA postponed the Asian qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup.
• 2020 BNP Paribas Open in Coachella Valley, California, was canceled after virus cases surge in the region.
•  New York City Half-Marathon planned for March 15 has been canceled. 
• Formula E’s Sanya E-Prix on March 21 in China has been canceled.
• Formula E’s Rome E-Prix on April 4 in Rome, Italy, has been postponed.
• The Olympic qualifying tournament in Taiwan has been postponed.
• BMX European Cup rounds March 19-28 in Verona, Italy, has been postponed.
• Hong Kong Rugby Sevens for April 3-5 has been postponed until October 16-18. 
• Singapore Rugby Sevens for April 11-12 has been postponed until October 10-11. 
• Asia women’s rugby championship in Hong Kong for March 14-22 has been rescheduled to May 8-16.
• Asia Sevens Rugby Invitational, doubling as an Olympic Sevens test event for April 25-26, is now canceled.
• Barcelona Marathon on March 15 postponed to October 25.
• Seoul Marathon on March 22 canceled.
• Rome Marathon on March 29 canceled.
• Paris Marathon on April 5 postponed to October 18.
• Milan Marathon in Italy on April 5 postponed.
• Wuhan Marathon in China on April 12 canceled.
• Arsenal v. Manchester soccer match on March 11 postponed.

As we detailed earlier, Covid-19 truly is an event-killer.