March Madness just got a lot smaller. And a lot quieter, too.
Reacting to the coronavirus global pandemic, NCAA President Mark Emmert announced Wednesday that upcoming championships will go on without fans, including the colossal spectacle of the men's basketball tournament, and what was expected to be a supersized NCAA Wrestling Championships next week in Minneapolis.
The wrestling event is still scheduled for March 19-21 at U.S. Bank Stadium, which would mark the first time it's been held in an NFL stadium. Organizers had hoped to shatter its attendance records, with 45,000 seats available for all six sessions. Instead, the big stadium will be mostly empty, except for wrestlers, coaches, family members and other essential personnel.
A year ago, that stadium was being prepped to hold the grand finale of the men's basketball tournament: the 2019 Final Four. Nearly a million fans attended men's and women's basketball tournament games last year. This year, the new plan is to allow "essential staff and limited family attendance."
The NCAA's decision also applies to other winter sports, such as men's and women's hockey, which now will be played in front of no spectators. The same goes for Saturday's Division III men's basketball Sweet 16 showdown between No. 2 St. John's and St. Thomas, in Collegeville.
The University of Minnesota followed suit later Wednesday, releasing a statement saying no fans can attend Gophers home games or events until further notice. Family and "essential" staff will be allowed.
"While I understand how disappointing this is for fans of all sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States," Emmert's statement read. "This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, most importantly, our student-athletes."
Emmert said he acted on the advice of public health officials and the NCAA's COVID-19 advisory panel. His decision came on a day during which reactions in the sports world came fast and furious, including the Ivy League canceling all sports through the spring semester.