NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball and MLS close locker rooms due to coronavirus threat
America’s major professional sports leagues issued a joint statement Monday announcing plans to limit locker room access in an effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The NBA, Major League Baseball, NHL and Major League Soccer said their locker rooms and clubhouses will be open only to essential team personnel, including players, coaches, general managers and public relations staffers. Media access to players will be limited to designated areas outside of the locker room with a specific directive from the NBA to keep players six to eight feet away from reporters, sources told ESPN.
“After consultation with infectious disease and public health experts, and given the issues that can be associated with close contact in pre- and post-game settings, all team locker rooms and clubhouses will be open only to players and essential employees of teams and team facilities until further notice,” the joint statement read. “Media access will be maintained in designated locations outside of the locker room and clubhouse setting. These temporary changes will be effective beginning with tomorrow’s games and practices. We will continue to closely monitor this situation and take any further steps necessary to maintain a safe and welcoming environment.”
The Professional Basketball Writers Association issued a statement in response to this latest move from the NBA, which previously issued a memo instructing teams to prepare for the possibility of playing games in empty arenas. The NBA has maintained close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and other health officials to keep teams informed and advised of the growing coronavirus threat.
The NBA has recommended that players avoid high-fives and taking items from autograph seekers. The league is planning to hold a conference call with team owners and governors Wednesday, ESPN reported.
The PBWA supports the league’s decision to temporarily close locker rooms, but noted that locker room access is “essential to good sports journalism.”
“The coronavirus poses a serious health threat to everyone,” the PBWA statement read. “The Professional Basketball Writers Association believes the safety of fans, players, team employees, arena workers and the media who cover the league must be protected. Our thoughts are with all people who already have been adversely impacted by the virus. Therefore, we understand the NBA’s decision to temporarily close locker rooms to everyone but players and essential team personnel with the NBA’s promise that once the coronavirus crisis abates, the league will restore full access to the journalists who cover the league.”
This story was originally published March 9, 2020 at 4:55 PM with the headline "NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball and MLS close locker rooms due to coronavirus threat."
