SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO.com) — The round of coronavirus-related sports disruptions has reached Sioux Falls.
The NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Championships in Sioux Falls will not have fans in the stands for the rest of its schedule this year.
The tournament, at the Sanford Pentagon, began Wednesday morning and runs through March 17. Attendance at the event “will be limited to teams, essential staff members and immediate family of the student-athletes,” per a release.
“Our first priority is the health and safety of the student-athletes, teams and fans at the Sanford Sports Complex, and we can all play a role in containing the COVID-19 virus,” Bill Gassen, chief administrative officer at Sanford Health, said in a statement. “We know this is disappointing for the fans of all the teams, but our role as a health care leader is to protect the community.”
The NAIA, or National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, is a college sports governing body separate from the NCAA. Sioux Falls has hosted the NAIA’s Division II men’s basketball tournament the past three seasons.
The NAIA is the latest basketball governing body to take drastic steps in response to COVID-19. The NBA announced Wednesday it was suspending its season until further notice after a player tested positive for the disease. Earlier Wednesday the NCAA announced the March Madness basketball tournament will proceed with very limited crowds.
