The NBA is still grappling with the best way to avoid the potential spread of the coronavirus. One of the ideas being toyed with was playing games in an empty arena.
On Wednesday, the Golden State Warriors became the first team subject to that notion.
With the city of San Francisco expressing concerns regarding the wellbeing of fans, players and media, among others, the Warriors will host the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night… and no fans will be allowed in the arena.
Logan Murdock of NBC Sports spoke to Warriors owner Bob Myers, who said Dubs players are “understandably somber” regarding the news:
Warriors GM Bob Myers said the players had an “understandably somber” reaction to the news. Myers said he feels for the low wage workers who Chase Center employs on a nightly basis.
— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) March 11, 2020
The Warriors' decision to play behind close doors has not yet become a league-wide strategy adopted by the rest of the NBA.
Team owners, general managers doctors are slated to have a conference call with members of the Commissioner's Office sometime today. One U.S. health official recommended the NBA continue to operate without fans in the arena (via Victor Reklaitis of MarketWatch):
“We would recommend that there not be large crowds. If that means not having any people in the audience when the NBA plays, so be it,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, during a Capitol Hill hearing on Wednesday.
For the league, it is not quite that simple. Warriors players are hardly the only group to express dismay at the notion of playing in an empty arena.
LeBron James previously stated he would not play without fans present, though he has since softened his stance as of Tuesday.
Right now, this appears to be a local issue. But all of the professional sports leagues are still grappling with the best approach to combatting the coronavirus.
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