NCAA Basketball Tournament to Start Without Fans

The first rounds of the NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament will be held with no fans in attendance, a sign of what could befall the Division I version better known as March Madness.

Johns Hopkins University, which is hosting the first two rounds of the Division III tournament, said it would not allow spectators "in light of Maryland's recently confirmed cases of Covid-19." It also cited guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for large gatherings.

"We are not making any determination about other JHU events at this time; while we await further guidance from public health authorities, we will be assessing large events on a case-by-case basis," the school said in a statement. "We regret any inconvenience to the families and fans of the players."

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has been examining options for the Division I tournament, including the possibility of holding games without fans, as coronavirus continues to spread across the U.S.

"If you can think of it, it's something that we've gone through an analysis around," NCAA Chief Operating Officer Donald Remy said in an interview earlier this week. "We've contingency planned for all circumstances."

The Division I tournament — slated to start later this month, with games in 14 U.S. cities — accounts for more than 80% of the NCAA's annual revenue. An advocacy group for college athletes recently suggested holding the event without an audience present, and as the virus fears mount, some have openly wondered if March Madness games will be held at all.