NCAA in talks to host the entire tournament in Indy

[bilsu]

It's the MLB vs NBA problem. The NBA did an excellent job with their bubble, a controllable in/out procedure. The MLB stayed at public hotels in cities where other people were staying, using public elevators & lobbies. Way harder to control.

NCAA should do this at Disney who has already proved that they can nail this type of event.
[/qu
I do not think the NCAA is going to quarantine the teams 14 days before the tournament starts.

[Skatastrophy]

I do not think the NCAA is going to quarantine the teams 14 days before the tournament starts.

If you aren't controlling the inputs, then it isn't a bubble.

Edit: I just looked it up, and the NCAA isn't calling it a bubble. They're calling it coordinated dates. I call that a superspreader event.

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2020-11-16/ncaa-relocating-2021-division-i-mens-basketball-championship-sites?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiossports&stream=top

[Mr. Nielsen]

Solid read...
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-basketball/news/march-madness-2021-ncaa-tournament-questions-explained/1fyooomz6ox4l16qt1mpfus4ra

[The Sultan]

If you aren't controlling the inputs, then it isn't a bubble.

Edit: I just looked it up, and the NCAA isn't calling it a bubble. They're calling it coordinated dates. I call that a superspreader event.

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2020-11-16/ncaa-relocating-2021-division-i-mens-basketball-championship-sites?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiossports&stream=top

Eh, it depends.  If you require teams to do quick tests before arriving, and every day or so while they are there, and stay in the hotel, you can make this work. 

[dgies9156]

A couple of issues:

First -- I'm sure there's a lot of arenas in Indianapolis and Indiana that can handle this. Both IU and Purdue are close and, as others have noted, there are several nice arenas in the city itself. That should not be a problem.

Second -- Part of the charm of the NCAA is the ability to travel to other cities and to come together with fans of multiple teams. If you've never done an NCAA road trip, you've missed out. Not sure that would be possible if it was held in one city (unless the city was NYC or LA).

Third -- Still holding out some hope, perhaps unreasonably, that we will have a vaccine administered to millions by March. If that happens and the contagin is down,  then this is both boring and really kind of yucky. For those of you who have never been to Indianapolis, it isn't Miami Beach!

Four -- As outlined elsewhere, the worst moment in MU basketball history happened in Indianapolis. We don't need another!

[Galway Eagle]

Third -- Still holding out some hope, perhaps unreasonably, that we will have a vaccine administered to millions by March. If that happens and the contagin is down,  then this is both boring and really kind of yucky. For those of you who have never been to Indianapolis, it isn't Miami Beach!

Sun King's a decent enough brewery and 9 Irish Brothers is a fun Irish pub. That's about it that stands out for the three times I've been to Indy. Could be worse than Indy though, nowhere's coming to mind that'd have the capacity but I'm sure it could be worse.

[wadesworld]

I've never been to Indianapolis for an NCAA Tournament round, Big Ten title football game, or Super Bowl, but everything I've heard from people who have been to those events say the city is a great host.

[warriorchick]

Sun King's a decent enough brewery and 9 Irish Brothers is a fun Irish pub. That's about it that stands out for the three times I've been to Indy. Could be worse than Indy though, nowhere's coming to mind that'd have the capacity but I'm sure it could be worse.

If Marquette makes a deep run, they could hold the tourney in Akron for all I care.

[The Sultan]

I've never been to Indianapolis for an NCAA Tournament round, Big Ten title football game, or Super Bowl, but everything I've heard from people who have been to those events say the city is a great host.

I've been there for a large convention.  It's nice.  In a midwesterny, chain restauranty kind of way. 

[Hards Alumni]

I've been there for a large convention.  It's nice.  In a midwesterny, chain restauranty kind of way.

Very basic, indeed.

[GooooMarquette]

If Marquette makes a deep run, they could hold the tourney in Akron for all I care.

Yep. Or even (gasp) Dayton....

[dgies9156]

dgies9156:
I was sitting in the stands at Market Square that day in 1978 stunned at what happened. Our team that year could have put another banner on the wall.

Brother Trump:

I was in Dubuque, Iowa that day escorting my girlfriend to her friend's wedding. When first news of that came over, I was stunned and thought the Cedar Rapids station got it wrong.

43 years later, we knew how right they were.

Oh, and the girlfriend has been Ms. dgies for the past 40 years.

[The Big East]

Brother Trump:

I was in Dubuque, Iowa that day escorting my girlfriend to her friend's wedding. When first news of that came over, I was stunned and thought the Cedar Rapids station got it wrong.

43 years later, we knew how right they were.

Oh, and the girlfriend has been Ms. dgies for the past 40 years.

Marquette Lost but You Won Big Time

[dgies9156]

Marquette Lost but You Won Big Time

No argument!

[muwarrior69]

Eh, it depends.  If you require teams to do quick tests before arriving, and every day or so while they are there, and stay in the hotel, you can make this work.

Vaccines may be readily available by mid March making all this moot.

[jesmu84]

Vaccines may be readily available by mid March making all this moot.

For Frontline workers and high risk.

So, no basketball players or fans.

[Pakuni]

For Frontline workers and high risk.

So, no basketball players or fans.

Yeah, the expert consensus seems to be late March to April for widespread access. I doubt the NCAA wants to place its bets on that timing and would just as soon have a plan locked in by the end of the year.

[wadesworld]

I believe both vaccines require two doses, right?  How far apart do they need to be taken, and how soon after the second does are you then "immune" to the virus?

[rocky_warrior]

I believe both vaccines require two doses, right?  How far apart do they need to be taken, and how soon after the second does are you then "immune" to the virus?

Pfizer's booster shot will be given three weeks after the first one; Moderna's is spaced four weeks later.   Not sure where immunity kicks in.  Ideally sometime between the first and second shots.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I believe both vaccines require two doses, right?  How far apart do they need to be taken, and how soon after the second does are you then "immune" to the virus?

Stupid question.  When they say they will have 20 million available by xyz date. 
Does that mean 2 doses x 10mil = 20mil, so really only enough for 10 mil people?
Or 20mil x 2 = 40mil enough for 20 mil people?

[leever]

2 doses x 10 mil

[GooooMarquette]

Yeah, the expert consensus seems to be late March to April for widespread access. I doubt the NCAA wants to place its bets on that timing and would just as soon have a plan locked in by the end of the year.

Yep. And that 'expert consensus' has consistently looked at best-case scenarios. Any hiccups along the manufacturing and distribution chains - and there will almost certainly be hiccups - and we will be looking at May or June.

One possible place for hiccups - distribution. States don't currently have funds allocated to distribute the vaccine and have asked for federal money to do so. Those requests have, for now at least, gone the way of a second stimulus package.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/14/health/covid-vaccine-distribution-plans.html?name=styln-coronavirus-vaccines&region=TOP_BANNER&block=storyline_menu_recirc&action=click&pgtype=Interactive&impression_id=c75513a1-29f5-11eb-b768-4564232d23c7&variant=1_Show

My money says the average Joe will have ready access by around June 1, and that 'most' people will be vaccinated by mid-summer.

[muwarrior69]

Yep. And that 'expert consensus' has consistently looked at best-case scenarios. Any hiccups along the manufacturing and distribution chains - and there will almost certainly be hiccups - and we will be looking at May or June.

One possible place for hiccups - distribution. States don't currently have funds allocated to distribute the vaccine and have asked for federal money to do so. Those requests have, for now at least, gone the way of a second stimulus package.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/14/health/covid-vaccine-distribution-plans.html?name=styln-coronavirus-vaccines&region=TOP_BANNER&block=storyline_menu_recirc&action=click&pgtype=Interactive&impression_id=c75513a1-29f5-11eb-b768-4564232d23c7&variant=1_Show

My money says the average Joe will have ready access by around June 1, and that 'most' people will be vaccinated by mid-summer.

It seem the money has already been allocated for distribution of the vaccines through operation Warp Speed.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/operation-warp-speed-covid-19-vaccine-delivery-fda-60-minutes-2020-11-08/

[GooooMarquette]

It seem the money has already been allocated for distribution of the vaccines through operation Warp Speed.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/operation-warp-speed-covid-19-vaccine-delivery-fda-60-minutes-2020-11-08/

Yes, but it is dramatically less than what is actually needed. The NC Secretary of HHS described the WARP speed allocation as a 'down payment.' From the NYTimes article:

Congress has allocated $10 billion to Operation Warp Speed, the federal effort subsidizing vaccine companies' clinical trials and manufacturing costs. Dr. Mandy K. Cohen, the secretary of health and human services in North Carolina, said her state had received just $6 million for distributing and promoting the shot. She expects $3 million more by the end of the year and called the money "a down payment" for what is likely to be $30 million worth of work over the first year of vaccine distribution.

[The Big East]

Yes, but it is dramatically less than what is actually needed. The NC Secretary of HHS described the WARP speed allocation as a 'down payment.' From the NYTimes article:

Congress has allocated $10 billion to Operation Warp Speed, the federal effort subsidizing vaccine companies' clinical trials and manufacturing costs. Dr. Mandy K. Cohen, the secretary of health and human services in North Carolina, said her state had received just $6 million for distributing and promoting the shot. She expects $3 million more by the end of the year and called the money "a down payment" for what is likely to be $30 million worth of work over the first year of vaccine distribution.

One advantage of the vaccine is it reduces the vector of the spread. By how much nobody knows, but every little bit helps