The sporting world is feeling the weight of the COVID-19 outbreak that’s spread from China to most countries around the world, infecting well over 100,000 people and killing nearly 5,000 globally so far.
This week, few industries were left untouched by the virus, which the World Health Organization has officially declared a global pandemic. The outbreak sent global stock markets spiraling, the U.S. implemented sweeping travel restrictions on European countries and companies have been forced to cancel conferences around the world.
Cities and countries have issued quarantine orders, shuttered school districts and banned large gatherings in an attempt to curb the spread of the fatal virus.
And now, sports leagues are ceasing competition, including all four major and active U.S. leagues.
Marty Conway, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, called the past two days of reckoning throughout sports “unprecedented.”
Conway, who spent time at AOL and served as a special advisor to former MLB Commissioner Peter Ueberroth, said the coronavirus’ impact on sports is “like a combination of 9/11 and when Magic Johnson was diagnosed with HIV.”
“In the Magic experience, from what I recall, there was just so much uncertainty and the ability to comprehend what does this mean for players, fans, officials — people that would come in contact with someone with HIV,” Conway said. “And there was enormous uproar, obviously, pre-social and digital media. But it was enormous.”
He said it’s that element of uncertainty about COVID-19 — as well as the potential severity of it — that makes this unprecedented in U.S. sports. In the U.S., the virus has infected more than 1,701, according to Johns Hopkins University, and killed at least 40.
“And then you had the post-9/11 conditions when everybody’s question was: ‘What’s the right thing to do?’ Is the right thing to play or not to play?” he said. “That’s why, for me, this was unprecedented, because you had such an unusual mix of ingredients, never before coming together. This is truly the ‘Black Swan’ event for sports.”
Here are some of the leagues that announced disruptions this week:
The National Basketball Association on Wednesday night suspended its season indefinitely, opening the floodgates of league decisions announced Thursday.
“The NBA is suspending gameplay following the conclusion of [Wednesday night’s] schedule of games until further notice,” the league said in a statement. “The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.”
The decision came after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for COVID-19 shortly before the team was to play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. That game was canceled close to the scheduled tipoff. Fans already in attendance were told by an official on the public address system to leave “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
NHL suspends season
The National Hockey League announced Thursday it was immediately suspending its 2019-2020 regular season.
“Our goal is to resume play as soon as it is appropriate and prudent, so that we will be able to complete the season and award the Stanley Cup,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. Bettman said there is a concern “that some members of the NHL community would test positive at some point.”
The Canadian Hockey League also said Thursday it was suspending play in all three of its regional leagues.
US soccer takes a hit
Major League Soccer announced Thursday the immediate suspension of all games for 30 days.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber said all clubs were “united” behind the decision, adding that it is “in the best interest of our fans, players, officials and employees.”
The United Soccer League also followed suit, suspending play for 30 days. U.S. Soccer announced earlier Thursday the cancellation of all men’s and women’s national team matches in March and April.
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