BREAKING: UIL to limit attendance for Boys Basketball State Tournament amid Coronavirus concerns
UPDATE: UIL suspends 2020 Boys Basketball State Tournament effective immediately
HOUSTON - The morning after the NBA suspended its season and the NCAA announced attendance restrictions for the Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments, the University Interscholastic League has made their decision.
In a statement to the media on Thursday, the UIL announced attendance restrictions for the 2020 UIL Boys Basketball State Tournament, which is set to start today in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Tickets that have been pre-purchased for the state semifinal games for today and Friday will be honored but no additional tickets will be sold on-site at the box office. Additionally, for the winning teams, there will be an allotment of 500 tickets sold on-site immediately following the semifinal game for Saturday's state championship games.
"The health and safety of our student-athletes and patrons is our number one priority," said UIL Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt in a statement, "While we are saddened to limit the fans that can be inside the arena supporting their teams, it is crucial we take every possible precaution to keep participants safe."
ORIGINAL STORY: UIL, Alamodome monitoring Coronavirus as Boys Basketball Tournament approaches
The UIL also announced that All-Tournament tickets will not be accepted on Saturday and previously scheduled honor team presentations have been canceled.
"The player's families will be in attendance, which means a lot to them," Fort Bend Hightower coach Stephen Woods told VYPE in a statement. "I hate that some people who have supported us all year might not get a chance to see the game."
Per the UIL release, here are the restrictions on attendance:
Thursday, March 12:
Normal schedule and entry for pre-purchased ticket holders with no additional tickets sold except for a limited number of championship game tickets for the winning teams on-site at the box office immediately following the semifinal games. Championship game tickets will be limited to 500 per school.
Friday, March 13:
Normal schedule and entry for pre-purchased ticket holders with no additional tickets sold except for a limited number of championship game tickets for the winning teams on-site at the box office immediately following the semifinal games. Championship game tickets will be limited to 500 per school.
Saturday, March 14:
Each school will be allotted 500 tickets to be sold following semifinal games and until the limit is reached. All-Tournament tickets will no longer be accepted on Saturday. Previously scheduled honor team presentations will no longer take place.