Penn State Athletics to close home sporting events to fans amid coronavirus concerns
Update: The Big Ten men’s basketball tournament will hold the rest of its games without fans, the conference announced Wednesday night. Penn State is set to play the winner of a first-round game between No. 11 Indiana and No. 14 Nebraska at about 9 p.m. Thursday in Indianapolis.
Attendance at all home Penn State athletic events will be limited through at least April 3 due to concerns about the coronavirus, the university announced Wednesday.
Games and practices are set to occur as scheduled, but attendance at all Penn State home athletic events will be limited to:
- Essential personnel as designated by Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics;
- Participating student-athletes, coaches and staff;
- Families of participating student-athletes, coaches and staff;
- Media;
- Penn State recruits.
That includes Penn State men’s hockey’s Big Ten Tournament semifinal game against Minnesota set for Saturday inside Pegula Ice Arena. Refunds will be offered, Penn State said.
A message regarding refunds for those who purchased tickets through either Penn State or Minnesota’s ticket office, along with Ticketmaster, is forthcoming, the university said.
Fans who have already purchased tickets to any affected competition may contact the Penn State ticket office.
The decision was made “with an abundance of caution” for the health of the university’s student-athletes, staff, community and guests, the university said in a statement.
“Penn State Athletics will continue to take direction from the university and its COVID-19 task force that meets daily to assess the coronavirus situation and its effect on our campus and community, with recommendations from health authorities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” the university said. “We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this unusual time.”
Penn State is cleaning and disinfecting exposed surfaces, posted reminders to cover coughing and sneezing and to frequently wash hands with soap and water, and provided hand sanitizer throughout its facilities.
The university’s decision falls in line with several other sports leagues and federations across the globe.
The NCAA on Wednesday announced all upcoming championship events, including wrestling and the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, are scheduled to take place with only essential staff and limited family members in attendance.
MLB, MLS, NBA and the NHL announced Monday that all locker rooms and clubhouses will be open only to players and essential team employees “until further notice.”
The Golden State Warriors will play Thursday’s game against the Brooklyn nets without fans in the arena, while the Ivy League canceled its conference basketball tournaments Tuesday.
The Big Ten men’s basketball tournament, however, is scheduled to continue as scheduled, the conference announced Wednesday.
The No. 6 Nittany Lions are scheduled to play the winner of a first round game between No. 11 Indiana and No. 14 Nebraska about 9 p.m. Thursday in Indianapolis.
As of Tuesday evening, plans for the U.S. Olympic wrestling trials April 4-5 at the Bryce Jordan Center were still moving “full steam ahead,” according to USA Wrestling’s Gary Abbott. There were no updates Wednesday.
Penn State on Wednesday announced all in-person classes will be suspended through April 3. Online learning will be in place starting Monday and in-person classes will resume April 6, according to a news release from the university.
More than 121,000 cases were reported worldwide, including more than 4,300 deaths, as of Wednesday. There were more than 1,000 cases and 29 deaths in the United States, according to the state health department.
There are at least 13 presumptive positive cases and two confirmed cases in Pennsylvania, though none are in Centre County as of Wednesday, according to the state health department.
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 3:15 PM.
