Golden State Warriors To Play First NBA Game Without Fans
On Wednesday (Mar. 11), the Golden State Warriors announced that the team will play its next home game (vs. the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, March 12) without any fans in attendance, as CNBC reports.
The decision was made after San Francisco Mayor London Breed banned public gatherings of 1,000 or more people as coronavirus continues to affect American cities and various events internationally.
“We know that this Order is disruptive, but it is an important step to support public health,” Breed said in a statement. “We’re following the recommendations of public health officials to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”
The Warriors also announced that events at the Chase Center will be canceled or postponed through March 21. “Fans with tickets to Thursday and Saturday night’s games will receive a refund in the amount paid,” the team statement said.
“Guests who purchased tickets to a concert occurring at Chase Center during the impacted dates will be notified through the promoter directly to either receive a refund or exchange for a rescheduled show at Chase Center.”
The National Basketball Association is also considering relocating games to cities currently not impacted by the coronavirus, according to a report from ESPN.
Sporting events have continued to be disrupted by the coronavirus as the outbreak continues. Earlier this week, the Ivy League canceled its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.