NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TO BE PLAYED WITHOUT FANS

[drewm88]

Trump addresses the nation from the Oval office tonight at 8 PM ET.  Lots suggesting he will announce a nationwide ban on mass gatherings effectively ending March Madness and the NBA season.

No it wouldn't.

[barfolomew]

Know who I feel for?

Pantelis Xidias.
This was his moment to shine. Two or three cameras focused solely on his reactions.
Instead he will be home crying into the pile of hair on the floor.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Marquette down 3.... markus howard with the ball... 3 seconds left! Howard pulls the 3!! HITS IT!!! THE CROWD GOES Wi...oh never mind dead silence..

Will the BE refs finally call handchecking?

[Xact]

No more boos for Wojo?

[StillAWarrior]

Conversely, this could be the highest rated tournament ever.

I'll be interested to see that. I think what we'll find is that the energy of the crowd is a big part of the viewing experience. I won't be surprised if viewership goes down. I may be wrong, though.

They should move them into the smallest venue that can handle what is needed for the broadcast.

[injuryBug]

So in a month or 2 will it be safe to attend an event again?  Will this virus just disappear?  or do we have to wait until a vaccine comes out to live again?

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

So in a month or 2 will it be safe to attend an event again?  Will this virus just disappear?  or do we have to wait until a vaccine comes out to live again?

Yah, unfortunately I don't think this thing is going away in a few weeks. 

[Oldgym]

I'll be interested to see that. I think what we'll find is that the energy of the crowd is a big part of the viewing experience. I won't be surprised if viewership goes down. I may be wrong, though.

Agree.  When it's Marquette on TV, I don't notice the fans.  But when I don't have a dog in the race, fan reactions are part of what makes it Madness. 

This sucks, but I understand the decision.

[JakeBarnes]

No more boos for Wojo?

First Marquette locked the comments for IG and Facebook. Now they manufactured a pandemic to keep the fans out. Absolutely ridiculous.

[BrewCity83]

No more boos for Wojo?

The guys on the bench and their families can still boo.  And now everyone will hear.

[StillAWarrior]

Agree.  When it's Marquette on TV, I don't notice the fans.  But when I don't have a dog in the race, fan reactions are part of what makes it Madness. 

This sucks, but I understand the decision.

As far as tv ratings go, I'm not sure the displaced fans will move the needle much. How many people would that be? Sixteen games each of the first two days (with a lot of overlap of fans attending both games). Maybe a couple hundred thousand extra people viewing on tv? What's that do to ratings? I'm not sure it will outweigh the loss of casual fans that don't watch because the games won't feel nearly as exciting without the crowd. If I were the network, I'd be fighting hard for the bands and cheerleaders to be allowed to attend. Not sure the colleges would allow that, though.

[GooooMarquette]

Maybe they can just play Al screaming "holy mackerel" whenever there's a big play.

[Billy Hoyle]

As far as tv ratings go, I'm not sure the displaced fans will move the needle much. How many people would that be? Sixteen games each of the first two days (with a lot of overlap of fans attending both games). Maybe a couple hundred thousand extra people viewing on tv? What's that do to ratings? I'm not sure it will outweigh the loss of casual fans that don't watch because the games won't feel nearly as exciting without the crowd. If I were the network, I'd be fighting hard for the bands and cheerleaders to be allowed to attend. Not sure the colleges would allow that, though.

more fans will be staying home and watching instead of going to bars as well.

Back in 1988 when the precursor to the MAAC played their conference tourney in front of no fans due to a measles outbreak on member campuses bands were allowed. Cool article on The Athletic about that tourney.

[Jockey]

I'm guessing there is insurance in place for a catastrophic event? Lot of lost revenue at the sites.

They do have insurance. I am guessing that insurance companies will fight over this, though.

[Mr. Nielsen]

I'll be interested to see that. I think what we'll find is that the energy of the crowd is a big part of the viewing experience. I won't be surprised if viewership goes down. I may be wrong, though.

They should move them into the smallest venue that can handle what is needed for the broadcast.

This might trend bad on TV for the casual viewer. No fans and band/cheerleaders.

[willie warrior]

Kinda sucks.. wonder if it will make the games significantly less entertaining to watch or not. I dont mean ours

It will definitely make it less interesting.

[Billy Hoyle]

I'll be interested to see that. I think what we'll find is that the energy of the crowd is a big part of the viewing experience. I won't be surprised if viewership goes down. I may be wrong, though.

They should move them into the smallest venue that can handle what is needed for the broadcast.

Rothstein says that's being discussed:

Sources: The NCAA is believed to be having discussions regarding shifting to smaller venues for both the Final Four and the Elite Eight.
https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1237865821017239555

[dgies9156]

Makes me wonder if they will try to switch smaller venues. Capacity no longer matters. Venue shouldn't care, they aren't going to be bringing in revenue anyway at this point.

High school gyms here we come!

[Billy Hoyle]

High school gyms here we come!

Elite Eight at the Al!

[oldwarrior81]

The Bay Area is restricting gatherings with crowds over more than 1000.  Which is why the Warriors have announced the games with no crowds.
On a side note, the UWM games would not be affected by the gatherings over 1000.

[jesmu84]

For those of you with clearly no understanding...

https://www.vox.com/2020/3/10/21171481/coronavirus-us-cases-quarantine-cancellation?fbclid=IwAR3HsmoT8yNGFFijfSS9B70GRpfKp8L7iB9FX9P3G1Sz0IQmIR7zX_IMesw

[Mr. Nielsen]

On a side note, the UWM games would not be affected by the gatherings over 1000.

Would feel right at home. 

[Johnny B]

For those of you with clearly no understanding...

https://www.vox.com/2020/3/10/21171481/coronavirus-us-cases-quarantine-cancellation?fbclid=IwAR3HsmoT8yNGFFijfSS9B70GRpfKp8L7iB9FX9P3G1Sz0IQmIR7zX_IMesw

Good post 🙂

[Mike Deane's Seat Belt]

At least there will be fewer witnesses in person to the pounding wojo will take in the first round again!

#nowitnesses
#wojohasnomojo

[muguru]

For those of you with clearly no understanding...

https://www.vox.com/2020/3/10/21171481/coronavirus-us-cases-quarantine-cancellation?fbclid=IwAR3HsmoT8yNGFFijfSS9B70GRpfKp8L7iB9FX9P3G1Sz0IQmIR7zX_IMesw

With all due respect(for real) you Johnny and 10 of thousands of other people that are quivering in their boots and terrified of this thing, you do what you have to do to make yourself feel safe. I for one, will NOT absolutely will NOT be scared of a virus...I'm going to live my life as I normally would.

To be honest people are acting like what's going to happen to us all is like what happened in the Walking dead TV show. Cities completely barron, most everyone dead, and come back to life as a walker.