Fansided

Despite coronavirus concerns, NCAA still planning to play March Madness with fans

By Mike Phillips

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - MARCH 03: Nick Richards #4 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots while defended by John Fulkerson #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers at Rupp Arena on March 03, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - MARCH 03: Nick Richards #4 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots while defended by John Fulkerson #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers at Rupp Arena on March 03, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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While most of the country is concerned about the coronavirus, the NCAA is still planning to play March Madness games in front of full stadiums with fans.

As the coronavirus continues to spread, there is starting to be a public question about whether or not sporting events should be played behind closed doors in order to try and prevent the spread of the disease. Italian soccer fixtures are being played in empty stadiums for the next month while the NBA has already circulated memos discussing the possibility of playing without fans in attendance.

The next big sports phenomenon on the calendar is March Madness, and at the moment the NCAA is planning to proceed with business as usual.

The announcement, from Senior Vice President of NCAA Basketball Dan Gavitt, came in CBS’ studio show earlier in the afternoon. The tournament is set to be played in 14 sites across the country ranging from Dayton, Ohio to Atlanta, Georgia, the site of the Final Four.

The NCAA is already taking precautions to prevent the spread of the disease, including encouraging athletes and coaches to avoid shaking hands at the risk of passing germs on to others. It remains to be seen if that will be enough with the tournament already slated to play the East Regional in New York and the West Regional in Los Angeles, California, two states that have been significantly impacted by the coronavirus.

With tens of thousands of fans expected to be in attendance at the tournament, the risk of spread can be increased significantly since the coronavirus passes from human-to-human contact. Arena staff and security will no doubt be busy sanitizing their facilities to keep the environment as sterile as possible, and as of post time conference tournaments are taking place across the country with fans in attendance.

Time will tell if the situation merits a change in the NCAA’s thinking, but as of right now it looks like it will be business as usual for March Madness.

For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.

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