The NBA Is Asking Teams To Prepare To Play Games Without Fans In Attendance Due To Coronavirus Fears

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With several major event cancellations happening across the U.S. this week due to the Coronavirus, the NBA is beginning to put a plan into place that could see games being played without fans in attendance.

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the NBA has sent a memo to team franchises asking them to be prepared just in case they decide to play games without fans in attendance.

The NBA recently sent a memo earlier this week advising players to avoid shaking hands and using pens provided by fans to sign autographs.

Via CNBC

CNBC obtained a copy of the memo sent to front offices, which details the cause of the virus, how it can spread and offers players preventive measures to decrease the risk of becoming infected with coronavirus. The memo also says players should “avoid taking items (pens, markers, balls, jerseys, etc.) from fans to sign autographs,” which is a daily routine for NBA players during pregame warmups.

The memo also advised players and league employees to wash their hands for 20 seconds, using hand sanitizer as an additional option. Other details in the note include information on how coronavirus is spread, symptoms and actions the league has already taken, including consulting with an infectious disease researcher at Columbia University.

It will be wild to envision NBA games being played without fans in attendance but it seems like it’s becoming a real possibility considering everything that’s going on with the coronavirus in the past month or so.

Jorge Alonso BroBible avatar
Brobible sports editor. Jorge is a Miami native and lifelong Heat fan. He has been covering the NBA, MLB and NFL professionally for almost 10 years, specializing in digital media.