NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In the sports world’s latest and most impactful reaction to the coronavirus, college basketball teams will play in mostly empty arenas when the NCAA Tournament tips off next week in St. Louis and other host cities around the country.
NCAA president Mark Emmert announced Wednesday that only essential staff and limited family will be able to attend the men’s and women’s national tournaments.
That means the general public will be prohibited from attending the first- and second-round games of the men’s tournament at Enterprise Center next Thursday and Saturday.
“The NCAA continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 in consultation with public health officials and our COVID-19 advisory panel,” Emmert said.