Due to coronavirus, Ohio gov. wants no fans at indoor games - including NCAA’s First Four
The ACC tournament, Major League Baseball, the NBA, the NHL and MLS have already banned media from locker rooms as a way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Some fear that teams playing in empty arenas might be the next call. One governor has requested that no indoor sports be played with spectators in his state.
According to WKYC, Ohio governor Mike DeWine has recommended that no indoor sports, at any level, be played with spectators due to the spreading threat of the coronavirus.
DeWine made the recommendation at a press conference on Tuesday. He also tweeted about it. His recommendations extend to professional, college and high school sports, including basketball, that are played inside. The Mid-Atlantic basketball tournament is set to begin next Thursday in Cleveland. The NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers’ next home game is March 24.
The recommendation, if followed, could have a huge impact on one of Ohio’s top college basketball events. Dayton is the home to the NCAA tournament’s First Four, which is scheduled for next week.
Having no spectators at that event could affect some Triangle teams. N.C. State is on the NCAA bubble. If they make the tournament, they could end up in the First Four.
North Carolina Central, the top seed entering the MEAC tournament on Wednesday, has played in the last three First Four’s in Dayton. If the Eagles win the MEAC tournament again, they would earn another automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, and more than likely, Dayton could be N.C. Central’s destination.
The Wolfpack begins ACC tournament play on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the ACC issued a statement about the virus:
“After consultation with local and state health authorities, including the Governor and his medical staff, the Atlantic Coast Conference will hold its men’s basketball tournament as scheduled this week at the Greensboro Coliseum. As was outlined by the Governor during his press conference, high-risk individuals are discouraged from attending mass gatherings. We will continue to take precautionary measures and follow the guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, the league and the Greensboro Coliseum are taking additional proactive measures to provide a safe and clean environment for its institutions and fans.”
In addition, the post game media availability has been altered. Instead of open locker rooms, the post game media interviews will take place in an open area near the locker rooms, the Odeon Theatre.
On Monday, the first four Ohio cases of coronavirus were confirmed. On Tuesday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency. The state has seven people confirmed cases of people who have tested positive for the COVID-19 disease. All patients are in isolation.
