Puget Sound sporting events affected by ban on large gatherings
Governor Jay Inslee announced on Wednesday a restriction on events of more than 250 people in King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties in an attempt to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Inslee said the instruction will remain in place at least until the end of March, but could be extended. The ban includes sporting events, and will affect the Seattle Mariners’ opening homestand scheduled to run from March 26 to April 1.
The Mariners released a statement saying they are working with Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner on alternative plans for games that were scheduled for March. Those plans could reportedly include staying in Arizona, traveling to Texas and Minnesota instead or playing in front of an empty stadium.
Season ticket holders, suite holders and group buyers will automatically receive credit for tickets to unplayed games by March 19. Single-game ticket holders who purchased through the Mariners will be automatically refunded. Additional details will be communicated by March 14.
If the Rangers don’t want to make the trip to Seattle, it would likely mean playing that series in Texas or in Arizona if MLB keeps spring training facilities open. For now, MLB signed a joint statement with MLS, the NBA and the NHL that temporarily limits locker room and clubhouse access to players and essential staff.
More Seattle impact
The University of Washington announced that attendance at home athletic events would be limited to competing athletes, coaches and essential working personnel, including credentialed media, until further notice. Athletes’ families and recruits will also be permitted to attend home events. All scheduled events will proceed as planned at their previously announced location.
The UW softball team was scheduled to play the U.S. national team on Thursday night, but USA Softball announced Wednesday night that it would postpone scheduled stops in Seattle, Hillsboro and Eugene. The Huskies will still play a home series against Utah from March 13-15.
The baseball team doesn’t have another home game until March 17 against Gonzaga, but then has three more home games scheduled against Arizona from March 20-22. The gymnastics team will host Seattle Pacific on March 14. The men’s and women’s tennis teams won’t play their respective matches this weekend as both of their opponents made the decision not to travel to Seattle.
Single-game ticket purchasers for gymnastics, baseball and softball will automatically receive credit on their account that can applied toward any future UW athletics event this year or in the 2020-21 athletic year. Single-game purchasers who prefer a refund rather than credit can fill out a ticket refund form found here. Season-ticket holders will also receive credit for the number of games restricted.
The UW spring football game is currently scheduled for April 25 and could be affected by the restrictions if they are extended into next month.
The Seattle Sounders’ home match against FC Dallas on March 21 has been postponed, the team announced Wednesday. Details about rescheduling will be announced at a later date. The Sounders don’t have another home match scheduled until April 18.
The Seattle Dragons XFL team will host the LA Wildcats on Sunday as scheduled, but the game will take place at CenturyLink Field without fans in the stands. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
Tacoma teams respond
The Tacoma Defiance will play Wednesday’s scheduled match at Cheney Stadium against San Diego Loyal SC behind closed doors, per a release.
The Tacoma Rainers will be working with the Pacific Coast League to determine any flexibility within the schedule should the shutdown continue into the regular season, which is scheduled to open on April 9 at Cheney Stadium.
“Our hope is to play our entire Rainiers home season as scheduled and we are excited to open the gates to Cheney Stadium without health concerns as soon as possible,” Tacoma Rainiers President Aaron Artman said a statement.
The Tacoma Thunderbirds will play their games on March 14 against the Vancouver Giants and March 17 againt the Spokane Chiefs at the accesso Showare Center in front of no fans. A determination on the status of the home game on March 21 against the Portland Winterhawks will be determined in the coming days.
The Tacoma Stars have moved their game on Friday against the San Diego Sockers from the accesso Showare Center to the Tacoma Soccer Center. Attendance will be limited to 180 people. Season ticket holders that wish to attend can enter a lottery. More information can be found here.
At the high school level
After Inslee’s announcement, Tacoma Public Schools released a statement on their website saying it is reviewing all events and actvities and will be notifying affected school communities, partners and participants as cancellation decisions are made.
Inslee announced that school districts in the three counties should begin preparation for a possible extended shutdown. Seattle Public Schools later announced a closure of at least 14 days.
“Please also understand that should an unprecedented extended closure of schools in our region occur, we will face many unknowns,” Tacoma Public Schools said in a statement. “We won’t have answers to many questions immediately but have already started working on issues of family, student and staff support.”
If a school is closed, WIAA has given a blanket waiver to 17.12.11 practice accommodations – This allows schools to practice 7 days a week, twice a day with a break, or on a game day, and they will count toward your 10 practice requirements.”
Wilson High School was one school among the three Tacoma Public Schools closed on Monday, along with Sheridan and Lowell elementary schools. All after-school activities, including athletics, are currently canceled for those schools.
Other local school districts are also monitoring the coronavirus situation closely and have been in regular contact with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Restrictions extend nationally
Outside of the Seattle area, NCAA President Mark Emmert announced on Wednesday that all upcoming championship events, including the Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, will be played with only essential staff and limited family attendance. The Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena is set to host first and second round games next week.
“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 spreading in the United States,” Emmert said in a release. “This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, most importantly, our student-athletes.”
The Ivy League tournament was canceled while the Pac-12, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, ACC, MAC and Big West announced that the remainder of their tournaments will be played without fans in attendance. As of now, the Pac-12 tournament in Las Vegas will continue as planned with only teams and essential personnel allowed in locker rooms. The College Basketball Invitational will not be held in 2020.
MLS released a statement saying it will restrict locker room access to players and essential staff, suspend the opening procession in which MLS players and youth soccer plays enter the field side-by-side, postpone player appearance and autograph sessions and limit fan experiences during team warm-ups. Teams will also travel via charter flights for the foreseeable future.
After a player on the Utah Jazz preliminary tested positive for COVID-19, the NBA decided to suspend the season until further notice. The league said it will use the hiatus to determine next steps.
The Ivy League Presidents announced a unanimous decision to cancel all spring athletics practice and competition for the remainder of the academic year. The SEC announced that spring sporting events will be held with attendance restrictions through March.
At least three NFL teams — the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers — have reportedly pulled their scouts off the road and they aren’t attending college pro days for prospects.
Lauren Smith, Gregg Bell and Jon Manley contributed to this story.
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 11:06 AM.
