SEC barring fans from basketball tournament, regular season events
Just like the Big 12 and other conferences around the country, the Southeastern Conference will limit fan attendance at basketball tournaments because of COVID-19 coronavirus concerns.
Only essential staff, limited family and credentialed media will be in attendance for the SEC men’s tourney, starting with Thursday’s second round games at Bridgestone Arena, the SEC announced Thursday evening.
It’s a similar step as the NCAA announced Thursday that the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will be conducted without fans in attendance.
The No. 10 Missouri Tigers take on No. 7 Texas A&M at 6 p.m. Thursday.
In addition, the conference also announced all regular season and championship sports events on SEC campuses will take place with similar attendance restrictions. That will last until March 30, when the SEC and universities will re-evaluate conditions.
“We’re going to continue with our tournament,” commissioner Greg Sankey said in a news conference Thursday. “I continue to believe that we give all 14 teams who arrived here in Nashville the opportunity to play for a conference tournament championship and an automatic bid.”
As of now, there aren’t any plans of canceling the tournament, Sankey said, in the wake of the NBA suspending its season because a player tested positive for coronavirus.
“We have not discussed, with intent, not holding the event,” Sankey said. “As you can imagine, when you go through contingency planning at the conference office, we have considered that. We don’t believe we’re there.”
Aside from the SEC Tournament and regular season events, Sankey was also asked about potential football spring games. Other power conference schools like Ohio State and Michigan already canceled their annual spring scrimmage.
Sankey said there were brief conversations about spring games but said the SEC will reconnect with schools in the future. He also pointed out how most spring games are after the March 30 cutoff date the conference set for regular season events. Mizzou’s spring football game is April 11.
For the SEC Tournament, automatic refunds of ticket purchases will be made to fans who bought tickets through the conference. For campus regular season events, each school will determine refund policies and procedures.
“We are dealing with a rapidly changing and very fluid situation and the safety of our student-athletes, coaches and staff is paramount,” Mizzou athletic director Jim Sterk said in a statement. “At this time, Mizzou’s athletic teams are continuing to prepare for postseason and regular season completion as scheduled. Daily team activities and practices will continue until further notice and we continue to monitor developments.
“Decisions for team travel will be made on a case by case basis, but there are no changes to announce at this time. The athletics department takes direction from the University which is in constant communication with the Boone County Health Department, state and national officials.
“Mizzou supports the SEC and NCAA decision to limit spectators at events through the end of the month and will have additional information about this policy in advance of our next home games.”
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 8:38 PM.