NCAA tourneys to be held without fans, Final Four venue could be downsized

The NCAA announced Wednesday that both men's and women's March Madness games will be played without fans as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus.

However, families of contestants will be able to attend games in a limited capacity.

"I have made the decision to conduct our upcoming championship events, including the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, with only essential staff and limited family attendance," NCAA president Mark Emmert said in a statement.

Emmert added that the NCAA will look to move the Final Four out of Mercedes-Benz Stadium into a smaller venue in Atlanta, according to Ralph D. Russo of The Associated Press. Regional games could also be moved from the currently scheduled arenas to smaller settings.

The unprecedented announcement to stage the tournaments without fans came less than two hours after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said his state would issue an order to ban mass gatherings. Both Dayton and Cleveland are scheduled to host men's NCAA Tournament games next week, with the First Four tipping off in Dayton on Tuesday.

On Sunday, NCAA executive Dan Gavitt said that plans were still to play tournament games with fans in stands.

The COVID-19 crisis appeared to reach a critical mass in North America on Wednesday, the same day the World Health Organization declared the virus a global pandemic.