Phoenix City Council Votes To Cancel Youth Sports Tournaments

PHOENIX — Phoenix will cancel all youth sports tournaments and shut down some public park amenities as the coronavirus continues to surge in the city.

The Phoenix City Council voted Wednesday night to cancel all youth sports tournaments until the spread of the coronavirus returns to the moderate level in Maricopa County. The county is currently in the substantial level. The tournaments could be held in other cities.

The 7-2 vote also effectively shut down some city park amenities, including ramadas, picnic tables, fitness equipment, basketball and volleyball courts, and sports complexes. Parks and park bathrooms will remain open, as will hiking trails and golf courses.

Cities like Tucson, Goodyear and Tempe have also canceled tournaments amid the pandemic.

Mayor Kate Gallego, who voted in favor of cancellation, said the decision was not an easy one, but was vital for public health.

"We are at a tough time in our country right now," Gallego said during the council meeting. "We have to make data-based decisions based on the data we have."

Arizona reported 5,442 new coronavirus cases and 82 additional deaths Thursday, though the Arizona Department of Health Services said that nearly half of the reported deaths came from death certificate matching and some occurred weeks ago.

Councilman Sal DiCiccio, who was one of the two votes against the measure, said it was a "knee-jerk reaction" to the rise in coronavirus cases and wouldn't do much at all to stop the spread.

"If the mayor is so concerned about the COVID virus, she might want to spend a little more time developing a real public health plan for the entire general public and a little less time grandstanding and attacking others," he said in an emailed statement. "I do not have to agree with the plan, but at least do something other than just talk about it.”