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The NCAA announced this afternoon that all tournament events for all sports will be played with limited live attendance.
NCAA President Mark Emmert statement on limiting attendance at NCAA events: https://t.co/TIHHJjdse5 pic.twitter.com/8I1HdceDfN
— NCAA (@NCAA) March 11, 2020
The statement covers all “championship events,” so, NCAA tournament games, which for Boston College’s immediate concern means the NCAA men’s hockey tournament and possibly the NCAA women’s basketball tournament (fingers crossed). Only “essential staff and limited family attendance” will be allowed at the events. Note that this is separate from the Ivy League’s announcement earlier today that all spring practices and games will be cancelled for the academic year.
UPDATE 4:55pm: Yahoo Sports notes that games still should be televised, but a decision hasn’t yet been made on other media:
An NCAA spokesman tells @YahooSports the NCAA tournament games will still be televised, but the NCAA is "still working through (a decision on) other media."
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 11, 2020
We don’t have any word yet on whether this will affect conference tournament games, in particular the men’s Hockey East tournament quarterfinals at BC this weekend and the semifinals and finals at the TD Garden next weekend, however Boston College Athletics had previously indicated they will follow the lead of the NCAA and their conferences.
This story is developing quickly, so definitely check back here for more. We’ll provide updates as soon as we have any additional news available from BC, the ACC or Hockey East.