Coronavirus: Restrictions For Rhode Island Tournament Games

WOONSOCKET, RI — While the Rhode Island Interscholastic League said no final decision has been made about fans' ability to attend state tournament games at Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island despite a URI statement to the contrary, schools involved in the games began informing their fans Wednesday of severe restrictions. The RIIL said the statement that "fans will be prohibited from attending and only players, coaches and essential staff of the teams will be authorized to attend" was inaccurate and premature, but North Kingstown High and Bishop Hendricken were among the schools telling fans that only parents will be allowed into arenas.

RIIL officials said it has been in contact with the Ryan Center, as well as Rhode Island College, about the basketball and hockey tournament games scheduled for the next week at those venues.

"At this time no decisions have been made regarding attendance at these events," said the RIIL Wednesday afternoon, adding that updates will be provided as they become available.

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North Kingstown Athletics posted on its Twitter page Wednesday night that "no tickets will be sold and spectators are limited to two parents/guardians" in the basketball open Sweet 16.

Open State Tournament Sweet 16: no tickets will be sold and spectators are limited to two parents/guardians per family member on each of the four teams. Both games to be livestreamed on the NFHS Network. @NKBoosterClub @nk_schools @NKHS_RI @Anderson_NK @DeanB_Martin
— NK Athletics (@NoKingstownHS) March 11, 2020

Bishop Hendricken sent out a similar message Wednesday night: "This decision was tremendously difficult to make, but one, we feel, is necessary for the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and school community."

NEWS: With the evolving concerns regarding #COVID19 and large crowds, Bishop Hendricken will restrict tomorrow evening's Varsity Basketball Playoff to essential game personnel and parents of student-athletes from both teams only. The game will be streamed online completely free. pic.twitter.com/kcENbZeCfI
— Bishop Hendricken High School (@HendrickenHawks) March 11, 2020

Elite 8 basketball games are scheduled for Rhode Island College on Sunday with the Final Four set for March 21 at URI's Ryan Center and the finals March 22 at URI's Ryan Center. The best-of-three boys hockey finals are scheduled to begin at URI's Boss Arena on Friday.

In Massachusetts, the body governing student athletics has had to scramble to find sites in the state willing to host games after Worcester State University said it would not host state semifinals in basketball on Wednesday, and the championship games this weekend, after hosting games on Tuesday. After briefly moving the games to Springfield, the Thursday games were moved back to Worcester State Wednesday allowing for a fan restriction. The boys and girls hockey championships in the Bay State will be played at TD Garden on Sunday.

While classes will still be held as scheduled at Rhode Island College, all large events have been canceled through the end of the month. Effective the school said, all gatherings of 100 people or more will be canceled or postponed on campus until at least April 7, the college said in a statement. Classes are excluded from this policy. College officials said they are speaking with the NCAA to determine the best course of action for planned sporting events.

Three Rhode Island universities have canceled in-person classes so far: Roger Williams University, the University of Rhode Island and Bryant University. All will transition to online learning until at least April.

The Ivy League and New England Small College Athletic Conference both on Wednesday announced the cancellation of the entire spring season for all athletic teams. Many sports such as lacrosse were already well into their respective seasons.

The NCAA announced late Wednesday afternoon that it will not allow fans at any of its upcoming championship events — including the Division 1 men's and women's basketball tournaments often referred to as "March Madness" — and that while "we recognize the opportunity to compete in an NCAA national championship is an experience of a lifetime for the students and their families" the NCAA said it is conducting the championships "consistent with current information."