© Stan Szeto | 2020 Jan 8
California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly questioned the NBA and Warriors’ decision to continue allowing fans to attend their games as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread throughout the state. Newsom specifically questioned the league’s decision to ban the media from locker rooms while still allowing thousands of fans to congregate in the arena.
“I found it quite curious and I mean this with respect… The four major organizations — NHL, soccer, Major League Baseball and the NBA put out guidelines to protect their athletes but not their fans,” Newsom said at a Tuesday press conference. “I think they owe you and their fan base an answer as to why it’s more important to keep reporters away from their players in the locker room than fans” from other fans in “highly contagious parts of the country.”
The Warriors are hosting the Clippers on Tuesday night and allowing normal access to fans wishing to attend. Other countries affected by the outbreak have restricted access to fans, notably Tuesday’s Champions League match in Spain between Valencia and Atalanta.
NBA owners are reportedly scheduled for a conference call Wednesday afternoon to address emergency plans surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, and teams are likely going to be asked to prepare to plan for games without fans according to ESPN.