Coronavirus prompts sports-wide shutdown

As Coronavirus spreads globally, and more and more precautions are taken to slow the virus, many businesses, music festivals, and other large gatherings have seen no other choice but to temporarily suspend their activities. The sports world has been hit especially hard, with most major leagues suspending indefinitely.

Many college sports in America have placed a halt on all practices and games. This has prompted backlash from many student athletes who believe that their seasons are being taken away from them unfairly. The shutdown is especially hard for seniors to deal with. An instagram page called redshirtcoronayear has been circulating which claims to advocate for student athletes that are being affected by the virus. A post on the page says “For seniors, they deserve closure and being able to finish their season on their own terms.” The post received 186k likes. The NCAA made the decision to cancel it’s Men and Women's Division I basketball tournaments, citing the large gatherings involved as a potential method for the virus to spread.

College Sports are just a small part of the closures taking place worldwide. Major League Baseball has delayed the 2020 season’s Opening Day by “at least two weeks,” in addition to canceling all spring training games. “This action is being taken in the interest of the safety and well-being of our players, clubs, and our millions of loyal fans,” MLB said in a statement. Following the positive coronavirus diagnosis of two NBA players, the NBA decided to suspend its games for the remainder of the season. The NHL has indefinitely suspended their season, but is monitoring the situation and plans to resume play “As soon as it is appropriate”. The XFL has cancelled its inaugural season and the remainder of the games will not be played. It plans on issuing refunds or credit for future games to all season ticket holders. A much anticipated UFC fight between Khabib Nurmegomedov and Tony Furgeson, is still set to occur, but the fight will now happen in an empty arena. The media events and weigh in events for the fight were both cancelled. Major League Soccer released a statement that it would be suspending match play for 30 days "effective immediately, as the league continues to assess the impact of COVID-19.” Spanish soccer league La Liga has suspended it’s games, with other European leagues such as the Champions League and Premier League in question. Other large events such as the London Marathon, and the Tokyo Olympics, which are slated for later this year, also hang in the balance. The Boston Marathon has already been cancelled.

Originally published in the Fulcrum, March 2, 2019.