Coronavirus concerns cause MLB, MLS, NBA and NHL to limit media access
In an effort to combat the coronavirus outbreak, four of the five major North American sports leagues — MLB, MLS, the NBA and the NHL — released a joint statement Monday afternoon stating they will temporarily limit locker room and clubhouse access to players and essential staff.
“After consultation with infectious disease and public health experts, and given the issues that can be associated with close contact in pre- and post-game settings, all team locker rooms and clubhouses will be open only to player and essential employees of teams and team facilities until further notice,” the statement reads. “Media access will be maintained in designated locations outside of the locker room and clubhouse setting. These temporary changes will be effective beginning with (Tuesday’s) games and practices.
“We will continue to closely monitor this situation and take any further steps necessary to maintain a safe and welcoming environment.”
MLB released an additional statement after a conference call with all 30 clubs that read as follows:
“The health and safety of everyone in our communities is of the utmost importance to us. We have been engaging on an ongoing basis with a wide range of public health experts, infectious disease specialists, and governmental agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to obtain the latest information. We are regularly conveying the guidance from these experts to clubs, players, and staff regarding prevention, good hygiene practices and the latest recommendations related to travel. We are continuing to monitor developments and will adjust as necessary. While MLB recognizes the fluidity of this rapidly evolving situation, our current intention is to play spring training and regular season games as scheduled.
“On a temporary basis, effective on Tuesday, only players and essential personnel may enter locker rooms and clubhouses at MLB facilities. In a joint step with other professional sports leagues, we are requiring that clubs relocate media availabilities to another area in their facilities. Clubs will be expected to provide best efforts in facilitating usual media coverage and access to uniformed personnel and team officials in these alternate settings. Access for and coverage by the BBWAA and all media are vital to our game and we hope to resume normal operations as quickly as possible. We appreciate the media’s cooperation with this temporary step, which is being taken out of an abundance of caution for the best interests of all.”
ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported Monday afternoon that these changes to media access in baseball were imminent.
“After a conference call with owners Monday evening, MLB remains committed to playing the remainder of the slate of spring training games as well as opening the regular season on time, sources tell ESPN,” Passan wrote in a Twitter thread. “That plan, like so many, is contingent on how the coronavirus spreads.”
According to Passan’s post, the league could move games to new locations if health authorities deem their stadiums unsafe.
Media members will still be able to access players and coaches in the settings outlined above, Passan’s post continued, but team personnel will be asked to stand at least 6 feet away from media members during interviews.
This story was originally published March 9, 2020 at 4:16 PM.
