No one could have anticipated that COVID-19 would have such a swift and profound impact on the sports world. Despite existing fears about the rapidly spreading virus, its ability to force the complete shutdown of sporting events within a 24-hour period came as a shock to many Americans.
The chain of events unfolded when the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz were on the verge of commencing their game on Wednesday night. However, moments before the opening tip, team doctors conveyed to the referees and coaching staff that a player had tested positive for the illness.
The revelation that Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who was not present at OKC’s arena during that time, tested positive for the virus led NBA officials to conclude that it was too risky to proceed with the game.
The beginning of a chain reaction, this event marked the start of a chaotic Thursday in the realm of sports.
The current NBA season was suspended, and college basketball conferences began canceling their postseason tournaments.
Later in the day, the NCAA made the decision to cancel both the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments. Unlike the NBA, which intends to postpone its season and continue with March Madness at a later date, the NCAA chose to conclude its year without declaring a champion.
The impactful news, combined with numerous other sports leagues halting their activities, will have a significant impact on both sports enthusiasts and the entire sports betting market in West Virginia.
As the Mountain State was gaining momentum, WV sportsbooks are now bracing themselves for a challenging phase with a scarcity of sporting events.
We should analyze the various consequences of COVID-19 on the sports industry and how it has influenced sports betting in the state.
NBA shuts league down
Due to the rapid spread of this disease, the NBA became the first major sports league in America to initiate significant measures.
Before discovering that Gobert had tested positive, the Golden State Warriors had intended to proceed with their Thursday night game against the Nets without any spectators. Numerous NCAA conference tournaments had also contemplated implementing a similar measure, but were unable to do so due to unforeseen circumstances.
Everything changed once Gobert was declared unwell.
In addition to the cancellation of the first game, ESPN also had to cancel their second game of the evening. It was discovered that one of the referees scheduled for the New Orleans and Sacramento game had officiated a Jazz game earlier in the week, which Rudy Gobert had attended.
Adding to Gobert’s troubles, a video emerged during the week where the French center can be seen playfully touching multiple media members’ microphones. It is clear that he had no knowledge of his illness at that moment.
Gobert expressed his remorse for his “careless” actions via Instagram, offering an apology.
I aspire for my story to serve as a cautionary tale, urging everyone to approach this situation with utmost seriousness. I am determined to lend my support in any way possible, leveraging my personal experience to enlighten others and thwart the propagation of this virus.
It has been revealed that Donovan Mitchell, his teammate, has also tested positive for COVID-19.
The suspension of all NBA action by commissioner Adam Silver had a significant impact on various sports leagues across the country. In an interview with TNT on Thursday, Silver confirmed that the league would be on a minimum 30-day hiatus.
March Madness canceled
While prioritizing everyone’s safety is crucial, the most significant news of the day was the cancellation of the college basketball season, including the highly anticipated March Madness in 2020.
Despite the cancellations of postseason tournaments by several major conferences such as the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, and ACC earlier in the day, the Big East Conference proceeded with its scheduled noon game.
The quarterfinal matchup between Creighton and St. John’s had a perplexing beginning on a tremendously chaotic day. Eventually, at halftime, conference commissioner Val Ackerman intervened and canceled the game. Reports indicated that she only became aware of the other cancellations after concluding a meeting that commenced at 10 a.m.
Instead of removing the players dramatically, Ackerman and the league opted to halt the game at halftime.
Shortly after, multiple schools’ announcements of not participating in upcoming athletics may have been the breaking point for the NCAA. Duke and Kansas, in particular, decided to indefinitely withdraw their sports programs early Thursday afternoon.
Several hours later, Mark Emmert, the President of the NCAA, made the decision to cancel both the men’s and women’s March Madness tournaments, as well as all other upcoming collegiate championships in winter and spring.
Moving forward, the college sports that have been canceled are as follows:
Winter:
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Fencing
- Ice hockey
- Indoor track and field
- Gymnastics
- Rifle
- Skiing
- Swimming and diving
- Wrestling
Spring:
- Baseball
- Beach volleyball
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Rowing
- Softball
- Tennis
- Outdoor track and field
- Men’s volleyball
- Women’s water polo
Golf and other sports
Several other professional sports leagues in the US have also modified their playing schedules in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The remaining rounds of The Players Championship, as well as upcoming tournaments, have been canceled by the PGA Tour after initially allowing players and fans to attend the opening round on Thursday.
No other events will be held in golf until the Masters, which is set to commence on April 9, as it is considered the most prestigious event in the sport.
With less than a month remaining in its regular season, the NHL has decided to suspend its play. The league aims to resume games eventually but has not specified any timeline for this.
In an effort to tackle the ongoing pandemic, Major League Baseball has taken proactive measures. It has temporarily halted ongoing spring training games and postponed the highly anticipated Opening Day by a minimum of two weeks.
March 26 was the scheduled start date for the 2020 season.
In response to the situation, Major League Soccer (MLS) implemented a measure by suspending all games for a period of 30 days.
The XFL, a recently established American league, has also decided to suspend play. The start-up football league has halted its 2020 regular season and expressed its dedication to making a comeback in the following year.
The seasons of professional tennis and NASCAR have also been postponed, among other sports.
Impact on WV sportsbooks
It will take a considerable amount of time to fully comprehend the consequences of these suspensions and postponements on WV sportsbooks. Given the rapid implementation of precautionary measures in response to the coronavirus, it is challenging to predict when regular sports schedules will resume.
Naturally, as the duration of leagues’ inactivity increases, sportsbooks will increasingly suffer from adverse financial consequences.
Despite the presence of other sports, the NCAA Tournament’s loss is a significant setback for both books and bettors. With numerous states introducing online sports betting apps, this year’s March Madness had the potential to establish new records in sports gambling.
WV is facing a challenging period as the pause in activities comes at a crucial time for its online sports betting market, which has encountered various obstacles but was finally gaining traction.
We hope that the containment of the coronavirus happens soon, for the benefit of all, allowing sports to resume once more.
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