fb-pixelLive updates on how the sports world is affected by the coronavirus pandemic - The Boston Globe Skip to main content
Coronavirus

Live updates on how the sports world is affected by the coronavirus pandemic

The logo for WWE is shown on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange in February.Richard Drew/Associated Press

Sports events across the globe continue to feel the impact of the coronavirus. The disruption has extended to the local sports scene as well.

Here are the latest headlines on Tuesday.

TUESDAY

South Korea to begin play May 5

From the AP: South Korea’s professional baseball league has decided to begin its season on May 5.

The games will be played without fans until the risk of infection from the coronavirus is gone.

The league plans to maintain a 144-game regular-season schedule but has decided scrap its all-star game and shorten the first round of the playoffs from a best-of-five to best-of-three series.

The KBO says it could shorten the regular season if infections erupt. The league will advise players to wear face masks in locker rooms and require them to download smartphone apps to report their daily health status to league officials.

Advertisement



MONDAY

Soccer with fans in Turkmenistan

Soccer has resumed in Turkmenistan with spectators as the Central Asian nation lifted a suspension of its national league.

Around 500 people attended Sunday’s game between Altyn Asyr and Kopetdag in a 20,000-capacity stadium in the capital, Ashgabat. It was the first fixture played in the Yokary Liga since March 20.

The crowd size was broadly in line with typical domestic league games in Turkmenistan and, as usual, attendance was free. The game ended 1-1. See photos here.

WEDNESDAY

Tour de France has new dates

From the AP: The Tour de France has new dates, and it will be followed by cycling’s two other major races.

Because of restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, the iconic race around France will now start on Aug. 29 and finish on Sept. 20. The Giro d'Italia and the Spanish Vuelta, cycling's two other Grand Tours, will take place after the French race.

The International Cycling Union announced the Tour's new dates on Wednesday after consulting with race organizer Amaury Sport Organisation. The race was originally scheduled to start on June 27 in Nice.

Advertisement



It's the first time since the end of World War II that the race is not starting in July.

“Holding this event in the best conditions possible is judged essential given its central place in cycling’s economy and its exposure,” the UCI said in a statement. “In particular for the teams that benefit on this occasion from unparalleled visibility.”

The race’s finish on the Champs-Élysées will coincide with the start of the rescheduled French Open tennis tournament a short distance away on the clay courts of Roland Garros in western Paris.

TUESDAY

University of Cincinnati cuts sport due to budget problems

From the AP: The University of Cincinnati eliminated its men’s soccer program Tuesday as other colleges weighed cutbacks because of budget problems resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

College are grappling with revenue losses from spring sports cancellations, including the NCAA basketball tournament. Eliminating sports is considered a last resort by athletic directors who face difficult choices.

Earlier this month, Old Dominion eliminated wrestling as part of its response to the pandemic. Cincinnati athletic director John Cunningham expects other schools to face similar choices because of the uncertainty over fall sports, including football.

“I’ve spoken to other athletic directors and everything is on the table at this point,” Cunningham said in a phone interview. “There will be different sorts of cuts and pullbacks that schools are going to make, and it’s definitely possible that will include sports offered."

Jayson Tatum hasn’t played basketball in a month

All-Star Celtics forward Jayson Tatum says he hasn't touched a basketball since scoring 30 points in a win over the Indiana Pacers on March 10.

Advertisement



“I got weights and bands and a bike to do some cardio,” Tatum said Tuesday after informing Emoni Bates he became the first sophomore to win Gatorade’s national player of the year award in basketball. “It’s tough, but on the other side, I know there are more important things going on in the world,”

Since the NBA suspended its season due to the coronavirus pandemic, Tatum has tried to make the best of an extended stay at his home in the Boston area.

“I’ve been taking time to relax and be at home with my son every day,” he said in a telephone interview. “I am trying to enjoy this time and the things we usually take for granted.”

WWE allowed to operate in Florida

Pro wrestling has been deemed an “essential business” by the government of Florida, which will allow WWE to tape and air live broadcasts from its Performance Center near Orlando, according to the Miami Herald.

The mayor of Orange County, where the facility is located, told media on Tuesday that he spoke with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the decision to force the center to close was reversed.

“I think initially there was a review that was done and they were not initially deemed an essential business. With some conversation with the governor’s office regarding the governor’s [stay-at-home] order, they were deemed an essential business,” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said. “Therefore, they were allowed to remain open.”

Advertisement



Florida has been under a “shelter-in-place” edict since the start of April. It is scheduled to last until the end of the month.

On April 5, ex-Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski won WWE 24/7 Championship at Wrestlemania.

No ‘Plan B’ for Olympics

From the AP: There is no “Plan B” for the Olympics if they need to be postponed again because of the coronavirus pandemic, Tokyo organizers said Tuesday.

Masa Takaya, the spokesman for the Tokyo Olympics, said organizers are proceeding under the assumption the Olympics will open on July 23, 2021. The Paralympics follow on Aug. 24.

Those dates were set last month by the International Olympic Committee and Japanese officials after the coronavirus pandemic made it clear the Tokyo Games could not be held as scheduled this year.

“We are working toward the new goal,” Takaya said, speaking in English on a teleconference call with journalists. “We don’t have a B Plan.”

The severity of the pandemic and the death toll has raised questions if it will even be feasible to hold the Olympics in just over 15 months.

“All I can tell you today is that the new games' dates for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games have been just set up,” Takaya said. “In that respect, Tokyo 2020 and all concerned parties now are doing their very best effort to deliver the games next year."

IOC President Thomas Bach was asked about the possibility of a postponement in an interview published in the German newspaper Die Welt on Sunday.

Advertisement



He did not answer the question directly, but said later that Japanese organizers and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe indicated they “could not manage a postponement beyond next summer at the latest.”

MONDAY

Towns’s mother dies

The Timberwolves announced Monday afternoon that Jacqueline Towns, the mother of star Karl-Anthony Towns, died of complications due to coronavirus.

“Jackie was many things to many people – a wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend,” the team said in a statement. “The matriarch of the Towns family, she was an incredible source of strength.”

Lacrosse league postpones season set to start on May 29 in Foxborough

From the AP: The Premier Lacrosse League has postponed the start of its 2020 season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The season was scheduled to begin play on May 29 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The PLL plans to announce an update in May on a new start date for the season.

“The health of our players, coaches, fans and colleagues are of paramount importance to us as we go through this unprecedented time,” Mike Rabil, who founded the league with his brother Paul, said in a statement. “As a league, we will continue to adhere to guidelines administered by the CDC, respective state governments, and our hosting venues. This was a difficult decision for our league but a necessary measure to ensure the safety of all parties.”

The league debuted last year with six teams traveling to different cities to play weekend games. One team was added for this season, which has 12 weekends of regular season action planned, including an all-star game, before its playoffs.

The National Lacrosse League last week canceled the last three weekends of its regular season. The league says returning for its playoffs will be determined “based on the COVID-19 circumstances.”

FRIDAY

Florida State player tells story of fight against COVID-19

Florida State offensive lineman Andrew Boselli says he had the coronavirus and detailed some of what his famous father went through in his own fight against COVID-19.

The son of former NFL lineman Tony Boselli says in a first-person account he wrote for Florida State’s athletic department website that he dealt with the worst of the virus for about three days.

The Seminoles’ lineman wrote that he wants “everyone to know just how hard it was. I spent days feeling miserable” and his healthy 47-year-old father with no underlying health conditions “spent three days in the intensive care unit.”

Tony Boselli is now back home and Andrew Boselli says he and his family are recovering from the massive scare. He says his brother and mother also dealt with the virus.

Andrew Boselli says he’s looking forward to being around fellow students and teammates again but added a word of caution by writing “the only way for that to happen is listen to the experts and follow their guidance.”

THURSDAY
WEDNESDAY

Track world championships moves to 2022

From the AP: The track world championships in Eugene, Oregon, have been rescheduled for July 15-24, 2022.

The event was pushed back a year because the Tokyo Olympics were delayed until 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The track worlds were originally scheduled for Aug. 6-15, 2021.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe says 2022 will be a “bonanza for athletics fans around the world” with the Commonwealth Games beginning in Birmingham, England, only three days after the track worlds.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games are scheduled for July 27-Aug. 7 and the multisport European Championship is currently slated for Aug. 11-21 in Munich.

World Athletics has also postponed the bidding processes for 2023 World Athletics Series events. They will now open in November 2020.

TUESDAY

CFL postpones season kickoff scheduled for mid-June

From the AP: The Canadian Football League is the latest sports league to postpone play because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CFL, which was scheduled to kick off the regular season on June 11, announced Tuesday that the season won’t start before the beginning of July.

“Like our fellow Canadians, we in the CFL are striving to meet today’s challenges with both pragmatism and hope,” Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in a statement. “We are pragmatic enough to see our country still has sacrifice and hard work ahead of it.”

The announcement follows comments by Mayor Naheed Nenshi that Calgary’s ban on public events until June 30 includes CFL and NHL games, should those leagues resume before then.

Toronto Mayor John Tory announced last week that Canada’s largest city is canceling events through June 30 that require city permission. That ban did not extend to sporting events, although provincial gathering bans would factor in.

“We respect the decisions being made by the federal government, provinces and municipalities on behalf of our safety and we will continue to follow their directives,” Ambrosie said. “These include indications from Canadian cities that they will not allow sporting events to take place before the end of June.

“While it is now clear that the 2020 CFL season won’t start before the beginning of July, we are committed to working with our teams, the Players’ Association, (The Sports Network and its French-language sister network) to play a full season or as close as we can come to one. We recognize this may require some creativity and we are preparing for multiple scenarios.”

Could baseball in South Korea be back by May?

From the AP: South Korea’s professional baseball league says it hopes to start practice games between teams on April 21 before possibly opening the season in early May.

The Korea Baseball Organization says the plans are contingent on the country’s coronavirus caseload continuing to slow.

The KBO will advise players to wear face masks in locker rooms and require them to download smartphone apps to report their daily health status to league officials.

South Korea reported 47 new cases for the second consecutive day as infections continued to wane in the worst-hit city of Daegu. Those are the smallest daily jumps since Feb. 20. The country was reporting about 500 new cases per day in early March.

But there’s still concern over infections linked to passengers arriving from overseas.

The KBO announced last month that it was postponing the start of its season but that it still hoped to maintain a 144-game regular-season schedule. It then said it could ban spectators from games when infection risks were high.

MONDAY

UFC 249 has a new headliner; still a go for April 18

Tony Ferguson will fight Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight championship at UFC on April 18, UFC president Dana White announced on Twitter. Ferguson had been scheduled to face Khabib Nurmagomedov, but the champion returned to Russia and is facing issues with travel arrangements to come back to the United States. The location remains unknown.

Liverpool FC changes course on furloughing staff

From the AP: Liverpool will no longer use a government scheme to furlough some non-playing staff after a backlash against the use of public cash by the wealthy European champions.

Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore says “we believe we came to the wrong conclusion last week to announce that we intended to apply to the Coronavirus Retention Scheme and furlough staff due to the suspension of the Premier League football calendar, and are truly sorry for that.”

Under a job retention scheme implemented to help businesses survive the national lockdown, staff can be put on furlough and receive 80% of their salaries from the government, up to a maximum of 2,500 pounds ($3,000) a month.

Liverpool had said it would top up salaries to ensure staff still received the full amount, but that still means using public funds to pay some staff.

Moore says the club still wants to “ensure the entire workforce is given as much protection as possible from redundancy and/or loss of earnings during this unprecedented period” but is now seeking “alternative ways to operate while there are no football matches.”

Liverpool leads the league with 25 points and nine games to go in a season that has been indefinitely suspended.

Moore says “despite the fact we were in a healthy position prior to this crisis, our revenues have been shut off, yet our outgoings remain.”

Liverpool FC is owned by Boston-based Fenway Sports Group. Fenway Sports Group’s principal owner is John Henry, owner of the Globe.

NFL planning telethon during draft later this month

From the AP: The NFL is planning a telethon to aid coronavirus relief efforts during the draft from April 23-25, according to two people familiar with the league’s plans.

The people tell The Associated Press that the league hopes its massive reach will raise awareness and funds in battling the pandemic. They spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the telethon has not been announced publicly.

Details on conducting the telethon and charities that will benefit will be released soon.

Since the NFL’s business year began on March 18, the league has conducted free agency even as team facilities have been shut down and travel has been barred. Its biggest offseason event is the draft, which was scheduled for Las Vegas but now will be done remotely, with ESPN and NFL Network televising the proceedings.

Italian’s top soccer league to cut pay

From the AP: Serie A says it has unanimously decided to reduce player salaries by a third if the season does not resume.

The Italian soccer players’ association has not yet signed off on the deal.

The league says in a statement that the guideline measure was agreed on by 19 of the 20 clubs. Juventus already reached a similar deal with its players.

The league says the agreement is “a common line of action to contain” salaries for “players, coaches and members of first squads.”

The reduction is equal to four months of salary but would be reduced to only two months if the current season is completed.

The league adds “it remains understood that the clubs will define the agreements directly with their members.”

Serie A has been suspended since the government ordered a nationwide lockdown nearly a month ago. Twelve rounds remain along with four games that were postponed from the weekend of Feb. 22. The Italian Cup semifinals also were interrupted after the first leg.

At least 15 players have tested positive for COVID-19.

SATURDAY

Donald Trump reassures Little Leaguers

From the AP: President Donald Trump is reassuring Little League baseball players that they should be playing the game again soon.

Little League president and CEO Stephen Keener reassured that the players would be back soon. Little League, like the major leagues, has suspended activities until mid-May, when the situation will be assessed, according to the Little League website.

The Little League website said officials “will continue to consult with appropriate medical advisors, government health officials and our volunteer leaders around the world, and we are committed to doing the best we can for the safety and well-being of our players, families, volunteers, and fans.”

FRIDAY

Preakness Stakes looking for new date

From the AP: Officials say they’re working to find a new date for the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown.

The Maryland Jockey Club and Stronach Group announced Friday that whenever the Preakness is run in 2020, it will go on without infield activities that had been one of the race’s biggest traditions. The Preakness was scheduled for May 16 in Baltimore.

The organizations say in a joint statement finding a new date for the Preakness “will take into consideration all of the recommended best practices from local and governmental health authorities to protect our community.” The Kentucky Derby was postponed from May 2 to Sept. 5. No decision has yet been made on the Belmont Stakes, which is scheduled for June 6 at Belmont Park in New York.

Joshua vs. Pulev postponed

Anthony Joshua’s defense of his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO heavyweight world titles against mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev scheduled to take place June 20 has been postponed.

A new date is currently being worked on.

MLL’s Cannons on hold for now

The Boston Cannons won’t be taking the field anytime soon.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Major League Lacrosse is suspending the start of the 2020 season.

The Cannons were scheduled to begin the season on the road at the New York Lizards on May 30. The home opener, at Veterans Memorial Stadium, was set for June 6 against the Connecticut Hammerheads.

Union player tests positive

From the AP: A player for the Philadelphia Union has tested positive for coronavirus. It is Major League Soccer’s first player case of the virus that has caused the suspension of the season.

The Union did not identify the player. He reported mild symptoms.

MLS suspended all league and team activities March 12. The Union said no other club players or staff would be tested because the case fell beyond the 14-day window of possible interaction with the player.

A member of the Seattle Sounders’ support staff and a sporting department employee at New York City FC previously tested positive for the virus.

WNBA postpones start of season

The WNBA announced Friday that it was postponing the start of its training camps, set to begin on April 30, and the start of its season, which was scheduled to tip on May 15.

The draft, which was previously moved to a virtual format, will still be held on April 17.

WEDNESDAY

Soccer fans in Belarus to stop attending games

From the AP: Soccer fans from two clubs in Belarus say they will stop going to games because of the coronavirus.

A leading fan group at Neman Grodno says its members will stop attending games and they have urged supporters for other teams to do the same.

The fans have called on the national soccer federation to “draw on some courage and stop the Belarusian championship, as the rest of the world has done.”

Fans of Shakhter Soligorsk have also said they will stop going to games “until the epidemiological situation allows us to return to the stands.” But they stopped short of calling for the season to be suspended.

Belarus is the only nation in Europe still hosting professional soccer games with fans in the stadium.

International players’ union FIFPro says players in Belarus have reached out with concerns about playing during the coronavirus pandemic.

Nets players now symptom-free

From the AP: Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks says the four players who tested positive for the new coronavirus have completed their two weeks of isolation and are now symptom-free.

The Nets announced on March 17 that four players had tested positive, with Kevin Durant telling The Athletic he was among them.

Marks said during a conference call Wednesday that all have now been cleared, along with the team’s entire traveling party. He said all are still practicing social distancing.

Brooklyn’s most recent game was March 10 in Los Angeles. All Nets players were then tested, and the team said one player showed symptoms and the other three were asymptomatic.

MLB cancels London series

From the AP: Major League Baseball has canceled a two-game series in London between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The teams had been scheduled to play at Olympic Stadium on June 13 and 14.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement in a memorandum send to MLB employees. MLB said on March 19 that it had scrapped series in Mexico City and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

MLB played in Europe for the first time last June when the New York Yankees swept a pair of games from the Boston Red Sox in London.

TUESDAY

Athletics minor-league skipper hospitalized with coronavirus

The Associated Press is reporting that Oakland minor league manager Webster Garrison is hospitalized and on a ventilator with the coronavirus, according to his fiance.

Nikki Trudeaux posted an update Monday on social media, saying the 54-year-old required a ventilator to fight COVID-19, but hadn’t declined in his battle.

“He is not getting worse! He is fighting hard and making small milestones,” she wrote on Twitter. Trudeaux has been asking for nightly prayers with the hash tag “WebbyStrong.”

Oakland released a a statement during the weekend that “a minor league staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 and is under hospital care.”

“We want to extend our sincerest thoughts and prayers to our colleague for a speedy recovery,” the team said. “We are committed to providing him and his family with support and care. Every person on our team plays a critical role to our success and we look forward to his return to the field when he is healthy.”

Garrison managed the Class A Stockton Ports last season. He played five games for the A’s in 1996.

FIFA looking into creating fund

The New York Times reports that FIFA is working on a plan to create an emergency relief fund to offset huge economic declines amid the shutdown of global soccer.

The fund could be worth hundreds of millions – the biggest response from any sports governing body. body. Read more here.

NCAA execs taking pay cut

USA Today reports that some of the NCAA’s senior management, including president Mark Emmert, will take a 20 percent pay cut.

Nearly all of the NCAA’s revenue comes from the men’s basketball tournament, which was canceled when the coronavirus outbreak deemed it nearly impossible to hold.

Chinese government orders all sports to remain suspended

From the AP: China’s government has ordered all major sports events to remain suspended because of the coronavirus outbreak, meaning the country’s basketball league will have to push back its planned restart.

The Chinese Basketball Association had hoped to resume play in mid-April but was denied government approval to do so. Instead, China’s General Administration of Sport issued a statement saying any large sporting events that draw crowds “are temporarily not being resumed.”

The agency did not give a timeline for when the suspensions may be lifted, but said it will “make timely adjustments according to the epidemic prevention and control situation."

The CBA has been suspended since Jan. 24 because of the spread of COVID-19. The league is reportedly considering a proposal to bring all 20 teams to one or two cities and play the remainder of the regular season in empty arenas.

Lionel Messi to take pay cut

Lionel Messi will take a 70 percent pay cut to alleviate financial strain on Barcelona during the sports shutdown due to coronavirus, ESPN is reporting.

Messi said, according to sources, that the team is happy to take a pay cut, and that other players will contribute "so that none of the non-sporting staff’s earnings will be reduced during Spain’s state of emergency.

Read more here.

MONDAY

MLS hopes to play full 34-game season

From the AP: Atlanta United President Darren Eales says Major League Soccer still intends to play a full 34-game schedule this season, even though the league will be shuttered for at least two months because of the new coronavirus.

Eales says MLS is more fortunate than other leagues around the world that play the traditional fall-to-spring schedule and may have trouble completing their seasons in such a compressed time frame.

MLS was just two weeks into its season when play was halted March 12 because of the pandemic. The league has set a tentative return date of May 10, though the growing death toll in the United States could force that date to be pushed back.

Eales says everything is on the table, including the possibility of resuming league play in empty stadiums.

"We're fortunate that we had just started our season," he said Monday during a teleconference with Atlanta media. "We have the whole calendar year to reschedule the games we missed. The emphasis is on playing all 34 games plus the playoffs."

MLS will likely schedule more midweek games and push back its MLS Cup championship game into mid-December in a bid to play a full season, according to Eales. He added that the playoffs could begin in mid-November — around the time MLS had been planning its title game.

New Olympics dates set

From the AP: The Tokyo Olympics will open next year in the same time slot scheduled for this year’s games.

Tokyo organizers said Monday the opening ceremony will take place on July 23, 2021 — almost exactly one year after the games were due to start this year.

“The schedule for the games is key to preparing for the games," Tokyo organizing committee president Yoshiro Mori said. “This will only accelerate our progress.”

Read more here.

SATURDAY

According to the Seattle Times, CenturyLink Field, home of the Seahawks, will turn its event center into a field hospital for coronavirus patients.

The Army National Guard has sent 300 soldiers to the event center, which will hold 148 beds.

Read more here.

FRIDAY

Cameraman in coma due to coronavirus

Yahoo Sports is reporting that a man who worked a Jazz-Pistons game days before the NBA shut down is in a medically induced coma while trying to recover from coronavirus.

The cameraman, who has not been publicly identified, was working in the Jazz locker room after a March 7 game.

On March 11, the Jazz’s Rudy Gobert was the first NBA player to be diagnosed with coronavirus. His positive diagnosis prompted the NBA to shut down indefinitely, leading the way for the rest of North America’s pro leagues to follow suit.

Read more here.

THURSDAY

Fanatics pivots to PPE production

From the New York Times: Fanatics, the company that manufactures the Nike uniforms for Major League Baseball, has temporarily converted its domestic factory in Easton, Pa., to produce desperately needed protective masks and gowns for medical professionals who are fighting the pandemic in the United States.

The masks are made from the same bolts of polyester mesh fabric used to make big-league uniforms, and the first prototypes bear the distinctive pinstripes of the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies.

"We’ve got tremendous amounts of fabric, which is exactly what the players wear,” said Michael Rubin, the founder and executive chairman of Fanatics. "We’re just taking it and making the masks and gowns that can be used by the people who are working to save lives every day.”

Rubin said prototypes of the new masks made with the material for baseball uniforms were developed last week, with help from experts from the St. Luke’s hospital system in Pennsylvania. The masks will go there and to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency first.


Read more here.

NBA to reduce pay of top executives

ESPN is reporting that the salaries of around 100 top NBA executives around the world will be reduced by 20 percent as the league seeks to offset the economic impact of the shutdown of the 2019-20 season.

From ESPN: “Many of the executives and officials who are impacted work in the league’s New York headquarters, including commissioner Adam Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum, sources said.”

No March Madness means less money for NCAA schools

Canceling the NCAA basketball tournament because of the coronavirus pandemic will cost the institution roughly $375 million that would have been distributed to 350 schools across the nation, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

In all, the NCAA will distribute $225 million to its Division I member schools in June, nearly two-thirds less than the $600 million scheduled to be handed out in installments from April to June..

Indy 500 postponed

From the AP: The Indianapolis 500 was postponed Thursday until August because of the coronavirus pandemic and won’t run on Memorial Day weekend for the first time since 1946.

The race will instead be held Aug. 23, three months later than its May 24 scheduled date.

“The month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is my favorite time of year, and like our fans, I am disappointed that we have had to reschedule the Indianapolis 500,” said Roger Penske, the motorsports titan who finalized his purchase of IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier this year.

“However, the health and safety of our event participants and spectators is our top priority, and we believe that postponing the event is the responsible decision with the conditions and restrictions we are facing," he said. "We will continue to focus on ways we can enhance the customer experience in the months ahead, and I’m confident we will welcome fans with a transformed facility and a global spectacle when we run the world’s greatest race.”

The Indianapolis 500 began in 1911 but did not run in 1917, 1918 and from 1941-45 because of World Wars I and II. Tony Hulman bought the neglected speedway after the second war and the Indy 500 returned on Memorial Day weekend in 1946.

WNBA to hold virtual draft

The WNBA will hold its draft on April 17, as scheduled, but will do so virtually without players or media, the league announced Thursday.

The picks will be announced live on ESPN2 and on the ESPN App.

The WNBA season is scheduled to tip off on May 15, with training camp beginning April 26. The league said in its release that it is “conducting ongoing scenario planning” to account for the coronavirus outbreak but hasn’t announced any plans to postpone games.

MARCH 25

NFL orders teams to close facilities

From the AP:

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has instructed the 32 teams to close their facilities to all but a select few employees by 6 p.m. Wednesday.

In a memo to the teams, Goodell said the restrictions meant as a safeguard against the new coronavirus will be in force until at least April 8. Then the league will re-evaluate, using advice from medical experts and health authorities. The few exceptions include trainers and doctors treating players, security and technology personnel.

The NFL has gotten some pushback for not postponing the draft scheduled for April 23-25 while the rest of the sports world is largely shut down. The league is developing a new format because it has scrapped the public events set for Las Vegas.

Major League Soccer training moratorium continues through April 3

Major League Soccer has extended the team training moratorium through, and including, Friday, April 3. MLS training facilities remain closed to all players and staff with the exception of players requiring medical treatment or rehabilitation, under the direction of the team medical staff, that cannot be performed from the safety of their residence.

Roger Federer, wife donate 1 million Swiss francs

From the AP:

Roger Federer and his wife Mirka say they have donated 1 million Swiss francs ($1.02 million) “for the most vulnerable families” in Switzerland.

Federer writes on his social media accounts that “these are challenging times for everyone and nobody should be left behind.”

The announcement was the first post on his Twitter and Instagram accounts in more than three weeks.

Federer underwent surgery on his right knee five weeks ago and hoped to return for grass-court tournaments in June. The men’s tennis tour has since shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Federer says he and wife hope “others might join in supporting more families in need.”

MARCH 24

Devils, 76ers backtrack on cutting salaries

From the AP: The New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers have done an about-face on cutting salaries for employees making more than $100,000. A day after announcing the temporary 20% pay cuts because of the economics effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the teams’ co-owners rescinded them.

Co-owner Josh Harris says after listening to his staff and players, it’s clear that the pay cuts was the wrong decision.

“This is an extraordinary time in our world — unlike any most of us have ever lived through before — and ordinary business decisions are not enough to meet the moment. To our staff and fans, I apologize for getting this wrong.”

The teams did not say whether they plan to maintain a four-day work week, which was part of the cuts. Employees benefits were never changed and the teams plan on keeping their 1,500 hourly workers paid throughout the regular season. The NHL’s Devils and the NBA’s Sixers are owned by Harris and David Blitzer, who are the founders of Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment.

Canadiens lay off 60 percent of staff

From the AP: The Montreal Canadiens are temporarily laying off 60% of employees while the National Hockey League season is suspended.

Groupe CH, which owns hockey's most storied club, says the layoffs go into effect March 30. Groupe CH also is establishing a $6 million assistance fund that will enhance employment insurance to make sure employees receive 80% of their salary for the following eight weeks and be available for loans to employees.

Owner Geoff Molson says: “We are working extremely hard to limit the impact this situation will have on our employees.”

Japanese PM, IOC president agree to postpone Games

Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe and IOC president Thomas Bach agreed Tuesday to postpone the 2020 Olympic Games, set to begin in Tokyo on July 24.

Click here for more details and to read the IOC’s statement.

MARCH 23

US wants Olympics canceled

From AP: The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee is urging the Summer Olympics in Tokyo be postponed, adding its large and influential voice to a growing chorus of athletes and sports federations objecting to having the games during the coronavirus pandemic.

The International Olympic Committee said Sunday it would make a decision on postponing or altering the games within four weeks.

But on Monday, veteran IOC member Dick Pound told USA Today that the Games would be canceled, which may have sped up the timeline.

The Tokyo Olympic torch relay was set to start Thursday as in northeastern Fukushima prefecture but with no torch, no torchbearers and no public because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Read more here.

Portuguese Olympic Committee wants games postponed

From the AP: The president of the Portuguese Olympic Committee says he hopes the Tokyo Games are postponed.

José Manuel Constantino says “the most reasonable thing is for the IOC, the Tokyo organizing committee, the Tokyo government and the Japanese authorities to find a consensual solution to allow the Tokyo Games to take place on another date.”

Constantino was speaking to Rádio Observador.

He says “I hope the games are postponed.”

Constantino’s comments come a day after the IOC said it was considering a postponement and would make a final decision within four weeks.

Constantino says Portugal’s Olympic team is not prepared at the moment, adding “some athletes found alternative ways to prepare themselves, but others don’t have the conditions to do so.”

Norway doesn’t want its athletes at Olympics

From the AP: The president of the Norwegian Olympic Committee is recommending that athletes from the country are not sent to the Tokyo Games if they take place as scheduled.

Berit Kjøll says “it will not be possible to carry out a Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in July as planned” because of the growing coronavirus outbreak.

Kjøll says she respects the IOC’s request to “come up with a well thought-out and good plan for when the games can be completed.”

The Norwegian federation previously had said the Tokyo Olympics should only to take place once the coronavirus outbreak “is under firm control” worldwide.

The Canadian Olympic Committee has said it will not be sending athletes to the Olympics unless the games are postponed by a year. Australia says it was advising its athletes to prepare for an Olympics in 2021.

MARCH 22

Two countries pull out of Tokyo Olympics

Australia has told its athletes to prepare for the Olympics to be held in 2021.

Canada has decided it won’t send its athletes to Tokyo if the games are held.

From the AP:

The Canadian Olympic Committee says it won’t send athletes to the Tokyo Games unless they’re postponed for a year, becoming the first country to threaten such a move in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

The committee sent out a statement Sunday evening saying it was willing to help the International Olympic Committee search for alternatives, but that it was not safe for athletes, “their families and the broader Canadian community for athletes to continue training for these Games.”

“In fact, it runs counter to the public health advice which we urge all Canadians to follow.”

MARCH 20

MLS extends training moratorium

Major League Soccer has extended the team training moratorium through, and including, Friday, March 27. During this time, MLS players are expected to remain in each club’s respective market and have been advised to exercise safe social distancing measures.

At this time, team training facilities may only be accessed for physical therapy purposes at the direction of club medical staff to ensure adherence to safety protocols.

MARCH 19

Big3 set to return?

According to Yahoo Sports, The Big3 is hoping to launch a quarantined, reality show-style three-on-three tournament next month to try and fill the sports void in the aftermath of the coronavirus sports hiatus.

The founders of the league — Ice Cube and entertainment exec Jeff Kwatinetz — have been having ongoing conversations with multiple TV networks since late last week to broadcast the tournament.

Per reports, it would feature 16 to 22 players who have tested negative for the coronavirus, all of whom would be quarantined in Los Angeles.

Sean Payton diagnosed with coronavirus

ESPN is reporting that Sean Payton has tested positive for coronavirus.

Adam Schefter wrote on Twitter Thursday that Payton made public his diagnosis “because he wants all people to heed the warning of government officials, stay inside, and behave responsibly.”

MARCH 18

James Joyce Ramble canceled

The 37th edition of the 10K in Dedham, scheduled for April 26, has been canceled. Organizers are looking to bring the race back on April 25, 2021.

Wrestlemania to be be held over two nights on closed sets

Wrestlemania will be held as a two-night event streaming on Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5. It has been moved from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay to the WWE’s training facility in Orlando, and will include multiple locations over two nights. All locations will be closed sets with only essential personnel.

Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski will host the event.

Laver Cup plans complicated

The Laver Cup, a tennis tournament scheduled take place in Boston in late September and feature stars like Roger Federer, is in flux due to a coronavirus-related postponement.

The French Tennis Federation announced Tuesday that it was pushing the French Open to September, which would overlap with the Laver Cup.

“This announcement came as a surprise to us and our partners - Tennis Australia, the USTA and the ATP. It raises many questions and we are assessing the situation," organizers said in a statement. “At this time, we want our fans, sponsors, broadcasters, staff, volunteers, players and the great city of Boston to know that we intend to hold Laver Cup 2020 as currently scheduled.”

Organizers said the Laver Cup had already sold out. It is scheduled to be held at TD Garden.

MARCH 17

Four Nets test positive

ESPN is reporting that four unnamed players for the Nets have tested positive for coronavirus, including Kevin Durant.

The Nets played the Celtics on March 3.

French Open postponed until Sept. 20

The second leg of tennis’s grand slam, originally scheduled for May 24 through June 7, will be now be played Sept. 20 through Oct. 4.

Matchroom Boxing postpones all events in March and April

The list of events postponed include David Avanesyan vs. Josh Kelly at The O2 in London on March 28, Lewis Ritson vs. Miguel Vazquez at the Utilita Arena Newcastle on April 4 and Terri Harper vs. Natasha Jonas at the Doncaster Dome on April 24.

MARCH 16

Kentucky Derby postponed to Sept. 5

The first leg of horse racing’s Triple crown, originally scheduled for May 2, will be moved to Labor Day weekend.

UFC, WWE make changes

The UFC has postponed its next three scheduled events through April 11, while the WWE has decided to hold Wrestlemania on a closed set. Click here for more details.

MLB pushes opening day

Opening Day, previously pushed back to April 9, will now be pushed two months in accordance with CDC recommendations restricting events of 50 or more.

In a release issued Monday, MLB said that its clubs “remain committed to playing as many games as possible when the season begins.”

WTA suspends tennis tour until May 2

The Women’s Tennis Association is suspending play until at least May 2, eradicating much of the run up for players to prepare for the French Open.

Penn Relays canceled

From the AP:

The Penn Relays, one of the oldest and largest track meets in the nation, has been canceled in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Penn Relays were scheduled for April 23-25 and had been held uninterrupted since 1895. The event celebrated its 125th consecutive running last year. The Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania says it will attempt to host a substitute track meet at a later date in late May or early June. The new event wouldn't meet the standard Penn Relays format. The three-day event would shorten into a one-day event for youth, high school and open runners.

The Penn Relays has adapted to worldwide conditions in the past. The meet was altered in 1917 and 1918 when several colleges, including most Ivy League institutions, curtailed their track programs during World War I. During World War II, travel restrictions reduced participation and spectator attendance while gas rationing was in effect in 1943 and 1944.

NFL cancels public draft plans

Just in from the NFL: In consideration of current information related to COVID-19 and guidance from medical experts such as the CDC, and in coordination with public authorities in Nevada and the City of Las Vegas, the NFL will modify its plans for the 2020 NFL Draft, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced today.

The clubs' selection of players will proceed as scheduled April 23-25. The NFL is exploring innovative options for how the process will be conducted and will provide that information as it becomes available. The selection process will be televised.

Public NFL Draft events in Las Vegas next month will not take place.

“This decision reflects our foremost priority – the health and safety of all fans and citizens,” said Commissioner Goodell. “While this outcome is disappointing both to the NFL and to the Las Vegas community, we look forward to partnering with the Raiders, the City of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for a future NFL Draft as well as evaluating opportunities for other major NFL events in Las Vegas in the future, including the Super Bowl.”

Mitchell says he’s asymptomatic

Donovan Mitchell says it took him time to “cool off” when it comes to Rudy Gobert’s negligence surrounding the coronavirus.

He also said the scariest part of the virus was the he did not feel sick, and felt that he could play basketball tonight if he could.

Mitchell is donating money to help students in Utah, where he plays, so they have enough to eat while they’re out of school.

ESPN suspends shows

ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” will be canceled, along with all of the network’s Washington, D.C., based programming.

Early-morning Sportscenter is also going on hiatus.

MARCH 15

Gobert delivers update on condition

In a video message posted on the NBA Twitter account, Utah Jazz forward Rudy Gobert said he is “feeling better every day,” but wishes he had taken the coronavirus outbreak more seriously.

Pistons player tests positive

Pistons forward Christian Wood has become the third NBA player to test positive for coronavirus, joining the Jazz’s Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. Wood has been in self-isolation since March 11 and is showing no symptoms.

Mets shut down minor league complex

The New York Mets are shutting down their minor league complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla. and players will receive their daily allowances through the end of their standard spring training schedule, according to Newsday’s Tim Healey.

MARCH 14

Gobert donates $500,000

Rudy Gobert, the Utah Jazz player who was diagnosed with coronavirus, prompting the NBA to shut down, announced a $500,000 donation on Saturday.

For employees at Vivint Smart Home Arena, the home of the Jazz, Gobert will help fund relief programs to make up for lost wages.

He’s also donating money to help families in Utah and in Oklahoma City, where he was diagnosed. The rest of the money will go to his native country, France.

NFL officials skeptical league timeline will stay the same

ESPN is reporting that officials around the NFL are “skeptical” that the league year will begin on March 18.

However, all signs point to an official ruling to come after players vote on a new collective bargaining agreement, which will be finished at midnight.

XFL player has positive diagnosis

USA Today confirmed that a Seattle Dragons player has coronavirus.

Seattle is home to the epicenter of the viral outbreak in the U.S.

Florida senate proclaims Florida State NCAA champions

In the wake of the NCAA Tournament’s cancellation, ESPN reported Saturday that the Florida Senate voted Thursday to proclaim the Florida State men’s basketball team NCAA champions. The Seminoles went 26-5 and won the ACC regular-season title for the first time in program history.

MARCH 13

Giannis and Zion step up

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Zion Williamson joined the dozens of team or arena owners who are stepping up to pay workers who otherwise wouldn’t be getting paid during the suspensions.

MLB encourages players to go home

From the AP: Major League Baseball is encouraging players to go home, a day after canceling the rest of the spring training schedule and postponing Opening Day by at least two weeks.

JetBlue Park in Fort Myers was among the spring training complexes shut down on Friday as the sport considered how to proceed.

Many teams said in the morning they planned to close for the weekend and re-open camps Monday. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred met Friday with the players' association leadership, and a decision was made to encourage players to leave camp in the afternoon.

“We don't have a playbook for this," Cleveland Indians president Chris Antonetti said in the morning. "We are learning on the fly. We are taking the approach that we will continue to prioritize the health and wellness of our players, our staff, their families, everyone at the complex, everyone throughout the organization. That is evolving day to day.”

The dispersal is not mandatory. In particular, many minor league players — especially from other countries — have been hoping to remain in camps, where they have usually access to housing, food and training facilities.

NFL to prohibit pre-draft visits

The NFL issued a directive to teams on Friday, saying that players cannot be hosted for pre-draft visits and teams cannot travel to college campuses.

There will be a punishment if the policy is violated.

Jazz used up 60 percent of Okla.’s tests

An article published by The Daily Beast offers up some insight into how Rudy Gobert was so quickly diagnosed with coronavirus, and how the team was able to confirm the rest of its players and personnel weren’t sick.

The crux of it: The NBA has enough pull and was able to work with local doctors to fast-track tests for players.

In the United States, .8 percent of all coronavirus tests administered as of Thursday went to the Jazz contingent.

The 58 tests were nearly 60 percent of Oklahoma’s daily supply.

NCAA could still release bracket

Hoops fans, there’s some hope: the NCAA may release its 68-team bracket.

NBA’s contingency plans

According to ESPN, the NBA Players Association sent a letter to its constituents outlining what the league’s CBA has to say about “dramatic scenarios” like a global pandemic.

While the league hopes to pick up play, their are provisions in place if the season is canceled.

NCAA making changes to recruiting, eligibility

The NCAA announced Friday that recruiting for all sports, both on and off campus, is suspended until April 15.

This will limit coaches who travel to visit recruits during the spring.

In addition, the NCAA is reportedly recommending that spring athletes whose seasons were canceled receive an extra year of eligibility if they want it.

How NFL teams are dealing with coronavirus

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer ran through what all NFL teams are doing when it comes to limiting interaction during the coronavirus outbreak.

For the Patriots, that involves telling coaches and scouts not to fly, and encouraging people to work from home.

Auto races called off

From AP: NASCAR and IndyCar have each called off their races this weekend. NASCAR was scheduled to run Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway without spectators but said Friday it is calling off this weekend and next week’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

IndyCar was scheduled to open its season Sunday on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, but suspended it’s season through the end of April. Four races are affected.

2020 Masters postponed

Golf’s most prestigious tournament has been postponed.

Chairman Fred Ridley: “We hope this postponement puts us in the best position to safely host the Masters Tournament and our amateur events at some later date.”

The event was due to take place in Augusta, Ga., the weekend of April 9 to April 12.

Read more here.

Boston Marathon postponed to September

Boston mayor Marty Walsh, Governor Charlie Baker, the CEO of the Boston Marathon and the CEO of John Hancock will have an announcement at 10:15 a.m. on the Boston Marathon.

EPL cans games

The English Premier League will shut down until April 4 due to coronavirus. On Thursday night, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive for the novel virus. At least eight clubs have begun to self quarantine.

From the BBC: “It was unanimously decided to suspend the Premier League with the intention of returning on 4 April, subject to medical advice and conditions at the time,” they say. The Premier League’s chief executive, Richard Masters, describes this is an “unprecedented sitaution” and adds: “Above all, we wish Mikel Arteta and Callum Hudson-Odoi speedy recoveries, and everyone else affected by Covid-19. In this unprecedented situation, we are working closely with our clubs, government, The FA and EFL and can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority. Despite the challenges, it is the Premier League’s aim to reschedule the displaced fixtures, including those played by academy sides, when it is safe to do so. In this fast-moving environment, further updates will be provided when appropriate.”

MARCH 12

PGA cancels Players Championship

The PGA announced Thursday night it is cancelling The Players Championship and shutting down its other tournaments for the next three weeks with the following statement:

"It is with regret that we are announcing the cancellation of THE PLAYERS Championship. We have also decided to cancel all PGA TOUR events – across all of our Tours – in the coming weeks, through the Valero Texas Open.

"We have pledged from the start to be responsible, thoughtful and transparent with our decision process. We did everything possible to create a safe environment for our players in order to continue the event throughout the weekend, and we were endeavoring to give our fans a much-needed respite from the current climate. But at this point – and as the situation continues to rapidly change – the right thing to do for our players and our fans is to pause.

“We will be prepared to answer additional questions on Friday at 8 a.m.”

The Players Championship is the premier tournament run by the PGA Tour, offering a $15 million purse, the richest in golf history.

EPL to play on - with fans

Despite restrictions and cancellations around the world, the English Premier League is playing on this weekend.

From the BBC: In a statement, the English Football League said the guidance from the relevant authorities remained that there is no medical rationale to close or cancel sporting events at this time. “The EFL, however, will continue to work with government and relevant stakeholders to further develop contingency plans to ensure the League is best placed to act as and when any potential restrictions may come into force."

XFL next?

NCAA Tournament is canceled

Call it March Sadness: The men’s and women’s Division I basketball tournaments are canceled.

The NCAA also canceled its winter and spring championships.

Read more here.

Relatedly, the Power-Five conferences suspended their sporting events.

  • Big 12 and SEC sports suspended until March 30
  • Big Ten sports suspended until end of academic year
  • ACC and Pac-12 suspended until further notice

Basketball official sick

An official at the Conference Athletic Association tested positive for coronavirus. Northeastern played three games in the tournament.

MLB start date postponed

Opening Day will be pushed back at least two weeks, and spring training suspended, the MLB announced Thursday afternoon.

Pete Abraham has more.

Minor League Baseball is following suit.

Celtics release statement: Likely not contagious

It’s unlikely the Jazz players who were diagnosed with coronavirus were contagious when they played at the Celtics on Friday, but Boston personnel – including the team – will be quarantined through the weekend.

Adam Himmelsbach has more.

NFL cancels annual meeting

The NFL won’t hold its annual meeting March 29 through April 1.

“This decision was made consistent with the league’s primary concern to protect the health of club and league employees and the public while enabling the league to continue with its essential business operations,” the league said in a statement.

Murphys Boxing cancels St Patrick’s Day Clash

Murphys Boxing announced that the 5th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Clash which was scheduled to take place Saturday at the House of Blues in Boston has been canceled.

Colleges begin canceling sports

Duke, Arizona State and Kansas are leading the charge among colleges suspending sporting events involving their student-athletes.

Duke’s athletic director is the chair of the NCAA Tournament committee.

Locally, Northeastern announced it was suspending spring sports.

NHL suspends games indefinitely

The NHL is pausing its season beginning with Thursday’s games. Matt Porter has the full story.

The AHL is following suit.

NFL has no plans to move league year; Patriots still scouting

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the NFL said it has “no plans to move the start of the league year,” which is set to begin on March 18 – Wednesday.

Beginning Monday, teams can begin to speak with free agents. That means Tom Brady could start hearing from teams who he may be interested in signing with.

While NFL teams like the Redskins and Buccaneers pull their personnel off pre-draft road trips, a source tells the Globe that the Patriots are still scouting at pro days.

Hockey East tournament canceled

The Hockey East tournament, which had limited fan attendance on Wednesday, will be canceled.

NASCAR won’t have fans

NASCAR’s next races will be limited to just competitors and necessary personnel. Fans won’t be in attendance.

College basketball tournaments canceled en masse

The Big 12, Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Pac-12, Big East, and American Athletic Conference tournaments were all canceled around noon ET on Thursday, hours before some were set to tip.

In Kansas City, players for Texas and Texas Tech were pulled off the court.

Conference USA, Western Athletic Conference, MAC, Southland, Sun Belt, Big Sky, and the Atlantic-10 are also being canceled.

But in Madison Square Garden, St. John’s and Creighton tipped off at noon for their quarterfinal game in the Big East tournament.

At halftime, it was announced that the tournament was canceled.

Pac-12 suspends all sports

Are we headed for a complete shutdown of Division I college athletics? A day after the Ivy League suspended spring sports, the Pac-12 followed suit, becoming the first Power-Five school to put restrictions on its spring athletes.

US Soccer on hiatus through April

Following the lead of MLS, US Soccer is calling off all of its camps and matches.

Mitchell tests positive

Donovan Mitchell became the second NBA player to test positive for coronavirus. Mitchell, who is Rudy Gobert’s teammate, was the only Jazz personnel to test positive among the 58 who were given the test.

Here are more details on Mitchell.

Players to play on, but without fans

From the AP: The Players Championship will not have spectators for the final three days at the TPC Sawgrass.

A person involved in the discussions over the new coronavirus says the policy is expected to be in place for the next several weeks, starting with The Players and extending to next week at the Valspar Championship in the Tampa Bay area. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move has not been announced.

The only times a PGA Tour event has kept fans off the course were safety issues related to weather.

Even as the NBA suspended its season and the NCAA said its basketball tournaments would not have fans, The Players began Thursday with fans. The only stipulation Thursday was they not ask for autographs.

Still to be determined was who would be allowed in. The source said media and key personnel would be allowed.

Marathon could move to fall

In an effort to salvage some of the immense economic impact it brings, the Boston Marathon may be moved to the fall.

The Boston Athletic Association is discussing plans to shift the marathon, which was scheduled to take place on April 20.

MLS suspends season

Major League Soccer is in hiatus, according to a report.

NWHL postpones Boston final

The National Women’s Hockey League will have to wait to crown its champion. The Isobel Cup, scheduled to played Friday at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton, has been postponed. The Boston Pride was set to try for a title over the Minnesota Whitecaps.

ATP suspends tennis tour

The ATP men’s tennis tour suspended competition for six weeks.

Patriot League cancels spring sports

Another college conference joined the Ivy League in canceling all spring sports: The Patriot League announced on Thursday no practices or competitions would be held.

ACC Tournament going on as scheduled

The ACC will not cancel or postpone its conference tournament, but it will close the games to fans, it said Wednesday. Games are scheduled to tip at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Spanish team quarantined, league suspends play

Real Madrid's soccer and basketball teams were put in quarantine Thursday after a basketball player for the club tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Spanish club said that its soccer team was affected because it shares training facilities with the basketball team.

The decision by the club came moments before the Spanish league said the next two rounds of the top two soccer divisions will be suspended because of outbreak. The league said in a statement that it had taken the decision after becoming aware of “the quarantine established in Real Madrid and the possible cases in players from other clubs,” without mentioning those suspected cases.

No player from a Spanish soccer team has been reported to have the virus.

MARCH 11

G-League suspended

Following in the steps of the NBA, the G-League announced that its season was suspended, effective after Wednesday night’s games.

NHL set to make an announcement Thursday

In the wake of the news the NBA has indefinitely suspended its season, the NHL issued the following statement late Wednesday evening: “The National Hockey League is aware of the NBA’s decision tonight to indefinitely suspend its season due to a player testing positive for the coronavirus. The NHL is continuing to consult with medical experts and is evaluating the options. We expect to have a further update tomorrow.”

Links to read:

Nebraska coach tests negative after sideline scare

Nebraska men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg tested negative for coronavirus – he has the flu – after being caught on camera looking visibly sick during the Cornhusker’s Big Ten Tournament loss on Wednesday night.

ACC tournament will be held without fans

The ACC issued the following statement Wednesday evening: “In light of the rapidly changing landscape regarding COVID-19, the latest developments nationally from health authorities and today’s announcement by the NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel, the ACC will alter the remainder of the ACC Tournament. After consultation with the league’s presidents and athletic directors, it was determined that beginning Thursday, March 12, all games will be played with only essential tournament personnel, limited school administrators and student-athlete guests, broadcast television and credentialed media members present.”

In addition, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association has canceled its annual convention, issuing the following statement: “Due to the health and safety of our members, student-athletes, volunteers, staff and partners and with the data and information provided about COVID-19, the decision was made to cancel the 2020 WBCA Convention. For more information see frequently asked questions below.”

Italian soccer player may be first pro athlete with diagnosis

Juventus’ Daniele Rugani has been diagnosed with Covid-19, likely becoming the first pro athlete to receive a positive test for the virus. The Serie A team had its future games put on hiatus due to a country-wide shutdown of sports until early April to try to stem the outbreak.

General view inside the empty stadium as the two teams line up prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes in Paris, France on Wednesday.UEFA/via Getty Images

No watching Bruins-Sharks in person

The San Jose Sharks have officially announced that their upcoming home games will be closed to fans.

Frozen Four still on, but with no one in stands

Following the precedent they set with the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, the NCAA will host the 2020 Frozen Four in Detroit but ban spectators.

The games will be played April 9 and 11.

The Hockey East playoffs, which are scheduled for this week, will go on without spectators in Amherst (Northeastern at UMass) and Lowell (BU at UMass Lowell). Spectators haven’t been banned from UConn at Maine or Providence at BC.

Bruins-Sabres will still have an audience

As scores of leagues pull the plug on spectators, the group that owns the Buffalo Sabres doubled down on the decision to allow fans to attend Friday’s Bruins-Sabres game.

NCAA won’t allow fans at basketball tournament

In an unprecedented move, the NCAA’s massive March Madness tournaments will go on – but without any fans in attendance.

Instead, only essential personnel and family will be allowed to watch the games in person.

The First Four is set to tip off on March 17.

NCAA president Mark Emmert has also implied that the national championship, which is set to be held April 6, could be moved out of the spacious Mercedez-Benz Stadium into a more appropriately sized venue.

The ACC Tournament, which began Wednesday, will still allow fans into its events despite the games tipping after the NCAA’s announcement. The Big 12 announced they wouldn’t be allowing fans after Wednesday, as did the Big Ten.

Bruins postpone 50th anniversary celebration

The Bruins are pushing a celebration for the 1970 Stanley Cup team into the 2020-21 season, citing greater risks of coronavirus in older adults. The ceremony had been planned for March 24, a game against the Red Wings.

Harvard hockey is done for season

With the ECAC quarterfinals series against RPI canceled, the Harvard men’s hockey season is done.

NCAA Tournament games in Ohio won’t have spectators

The governor of Ohio Mike DeWine said the state will issue an order that NCAA Tournament games in Ohio, including the First Four round in Dayton, will be played without fans in attendance.

“This seems difficult for people," Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine told reporters. "But we know what’s coming. We know what’s around the corner. … Everything looks the same, but it’s really not.”

In other college news, the Ivy League and NESCAC are canceling all spring sports, including practices and competitions.

San Francisco banning large events; Warriors to close arena to fans

The Golden State Warriors will be playing their home games in an empty arena for the foreseeable future due to the coronavirus outbreak, ESPN is reporting.

The city of San Francisco, where the Warriors’ Chase Center is located, announced Wednesday that it was banning gatherings of more than 1,000 people to try to stem the spread of the virus. The ban will be in place for at least two weeks.

Wizards’ ownership, however, has said it will defy a recommendation that mass gatherings be postponed or cancelled.

Mariners must move games out of Seattle; Red Sox series scheduled for early April

It’s possible the Red Sox won’t be playing the Mariners in Seattle for their early-season series scheduled for April 9-12 after the Washington governor banned gatherings of more than 250 people in King County.

The Mariners released a statement, saying they were working with the commissioner’s office on alternative plans. Their season-opening series against the Rangers in Seattle will be moved as well.

Read more about the latest announcements here.

World figure skating championships canceled

The world figure skating championships, which were scheduled to be held in Montreal beginning March 18, will be canceled.

NBA mulling moving games

ESPN reports that the NBA’s board of governors and the commissioner’s office are preparing for an important meeting Wednesday that will help determine the league’s course of action when it comes to protecting its fans and players from coronavirus.

Part of the proposal suggests teams based in cities with outbreaks could see their home games moved to an opponent’s home arena, or perhaps even a neutral site.

ESPN also reports that a few options are possible, including banning fans or suspending games.

“Sources say decisions on those options remain complicated by the fact that there has been a limited amount of public testing for the coronavirus in the United States,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski wrote. “There is no full understanding of how widespread and debilitating the virus could become in the country.”

Relatedly, LeBron James is reconsidering his stance on the NBA playing without fans.

“I play for my family and I play for my fans,” he said Tuesday. "No one could actually come to the game if it actually got to that point. I would be disappointed in that. But at the same time, you got to listen to the people that are keeping track of what is going on. If they feel like it is best for the safety of the players, safety of the franchise and the safety of the league to mandate that, then we all listen to that.”

Fans are still allowed at spring-training games.Christian Petersen/Getty

MLB prefers switching sites, not banning fans

From the AP: "If Major League Baseball can’t play in front of fans at a team’s home ballpark because of the virus outbreak, the sport’s first preference likely would be to switch games to the visiting team’s stadium if possible, a person familiar with the deliberations told The Associated Press.

“MLB starts its season on March 26. Among the games on opening day is Texas at Seattle — the Seattle area has been hit hard by the virus, with 24 deaths.”

NHL team could play in empty arena

The only hockey team affected by a mandatory gathering ban (so far) is the San Jose Sharks, who the Bruins are scheduled to face in Santa Clara County on March 21. A plan of action has not yet been determined.

European hockey cancelled

Norway became the fourth country, after Austria, Germany, and Poland, to cancel its domestic hockey season according to the Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation.

CBI tournament cancelled

One of the four men’s basketball postseason tournaments, the College Basketball Invitational, has been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

A sign of what’s to come?

The cancellation of the Ivy League tournament at Harvard could be a harbinger for sports in the Boston area. What about the Hockey East tournament? What will officials at TD Garden decide to do? Bob Hohler explores the possibilities.

And the Bruins are now working with special media protocols. Here are the details.

MARCH 10

NCAA will make call on tournament in coming days

▪ The NCAA is assessing the risk of coronavirus on the upcoming NCAA Tournament, which is set to send thousands of athletes and fans to more than a dozen locations across the country.

“We are consulting with public health officials and our COVID-19 advisory panel, who are leading experts in epidemiology and public health, and will make decisions in the coming days," the organization said in a statement.

Manchester United match at LASK to be played behind closed doors

▪ The first leg of Manchester United’s Europa League last-16 tie at LASK on Thursday will be played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus, according to a statement. LASK made the decision following advice from the Austrian government.

Manchester United have sold their allocation of just under 900 tickets, but the game is one of several European fixtures that will have no spectators.

“We will automatically issue refunds on behalf of LASK to our fans who have purchased tickets,” Manchester United said in a statement.

Connecticut high school sports canceled

▪ The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference decided to cancel the remainder of its winter championship tournaments. Here is the statement from the CIAC:

“Due to continuing concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) CIAC has made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of its winter championship tournaments.The decision was made in light of discussions with numerous agencies and considering the circumstances of our member schools, our championship venues, and weighing the health and safety of our student-athletes, parents, and fans given the uncertainty that surrounds the spread of this virus.”

Connecticut Division 2 and Division 3 boys hockey tournaments opened up with their first-round games last week. Division 1 was scheduled to start Tuesday night. State finals were scheduled for March 19, 23 and 24 at Yale.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced that he will sign declarations enacting civil preparedness and public health emergencies in Connecticut in response to the outbreak.

The MIAA released a statement saying there are no changes to postseason schedules yet. Connecticut schools are one week behind Massachusetts schools; Mass. schools finish up postseason tournaments this Sunday.

Ivy League tournament canceled

▪ The Ivy League canceled its basketball tournaments scheduled to be held at Harvard’s Lavietes Pavilion this weekend, the league announced Tuesday. The two regular-season champions — the Princeton women and the Yale men — receive the conference’s automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament. Those who bought tickets to the games scheduled for Harvard will receive a full refund.

▪ The Atlantic Coast Conference announced it will hold its men’s basketball tournament as scheduled this week at the Greensboro Coliseum.

▪ The Big East Conference announced Monday evening that it is moving forward with its plans to conduct the men’s basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden March 11-14.

▪ Hockey East continues to monitor the situation, but as of Tuesday plans to go ahead with the men’s quarterfinals March 13-15 at the campus sites, with the semifinals and final played March 20-21 at TD Garden.

Rangers catcher Chirinos concerned about playing in Seattle

With just over two weeks until baseball's opening day, Texas Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos says he's “a little bit” concerned about traveling to Seattle with Washington state having the worst coronavirus outbreak in the U.S.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday the state is preparing for potentially tens of thousands of cases, based on estimates of the spread of the disease. The Mariners are scheduled to open their season by hosting the Rangers on March 26. Major League Baseball said Monday that all opening weekend series were still set to run as planned.

The Boston Marathon is on, for now

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said that as of Tuesday the Boston Marathon scheduled for next month is still on.

Conversations with other stakeholders involved in the marathon — which expects about 31,000 runners as well as million spectators and pumps more than $200 million into the city’s economy — are ongoing, Walsh said at an impromptu news conference outside City Hall.

Bruins-Sharks in Calfornia in flux

Santa Clara County in California has a gathering ban in place to stem the outbreak of coronavirus. The Bruins are scheduled to play the Sharks in San Jose a week from Saturday. Here’s what could happen.

Jerry Remy staying behind

Jerry Remy wasn’t scheduled to be with the Red Sox during their season opening swing through Toronto. Now, he’s skipping the second half of the first trip. The decision comes as a precaution.

“With all my underlying conditions, they don’t want me getting sick somewhere else other than at Mass General – they don’t want me quarantined somewhere and I can’t get back to Mass General, where they would really want me,” Remy said Tuesday.

Celtics cautious but more concerned for fans

The angst in the NBA is growing surrounding what the league might decide to do – and if they might play without fans in attendance.

“Nobody wants to play without fans,” coach Brad Stevens said Tuesday. “That would be really too bad. But totally understand if those decisions are made, they’re made by people that are much more qualified than us to make them.

European soccer played in empty stadiums

▪ All upcoming professional soccer games in Spain, France and Portugal, as well as some in Germany and a European Championship qualifying match in Slovakia, will be played in empty stadiums.

The Spanish league said Tuesday that matches in the first and second divisions will be played without fans for at least two weeks. The announcement came after the government outlined a series of preventative measures being implemented to help contain the spread of the virus, including ordering all sporting events with a significant number of fans — professional and non-professional — to be played in empty venues.

Olympic qualifying in flux

▪ Qualifying events for the Tokyo Olympics are being canceled or postponed almost daily, and time is running out for athletes to prove they meet the standard.

Rowing was the latest sport to find itself in flux on Tuesday when it canceled two World Cups, the European Olympic and Paralympic qualifying regatta, and the final Paralympic qualifier. All were to be held in Italy from April 10 to May 10. World Rowing said it wants to relocate the qualifiers and was talking with other countries. It hoped to offer good news next week.

Media access limited

▪ In an unprecedented move, MLB, MLS, NFL and the NHL issued a statement Monday night limiting locker room access for the media. "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 players and essential employees of teams and team facilities until further notice,” the statement said. "Media access will be maintained in designated locations outside of the locker room and clubhouse setting. We will continue to closely monitor this situation and take any further steps necessary to maintain a safe and welcoming environment.”

xpected with the shutdown oflThe New York Times reports that FIFA is working on a plan to create an emergency relief fund to offset hugeorelief fund to offset hugeoelief fund to offset hugeolief fund to offset hugeoief fund to offset hugeoef fund to offset hugeof fund to offset hugeo fund to offset hugeofund to offset hugeound to offset hugeond to offset hugeod to offset hugeo to offset hugeoto offset hugeoo offset hugeo offset hugeooffset hugeoffset hugeofset hugeoset hugeoet hugeot hugeo hugeohugeougeogeoeoogeoeooeoes expected with the shutdown of


Katie McInerney can be reached at katie.mcinerney@globe.com. Follow her @k8tmac. Follow Andrew Mahoney @GlobeMahoney. Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him @cpriceglobe.