How the Coronavirus is Affecting Sports in the Northwest

Here is what has been happening in Northwest sporting events, due to more cases of Coronavirus have been found. Canceled games, empty arenas and more.

SEATTLE (AP) — Authorities say a part-time stadium employee at the 72,000-seat venue where the Seattle Seahawks play has tested positive for the coronavirus. Chase Gallagher, a spokesman for King County, said Thursday previously scheduled sporting events at Century Link Field will proceed. However health authorities have advised that the elderly and people with weak immune systems not attend games or matches there in the near term. Gallagher said health officials are working with the stadium to determine potential exposures from a Feb. 22 game involving the Seattle Dragons and the Dallas Renegades of the XFL football league. Seventy cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Washington state, most in the Seattle area. 11 people have died.

(AP) — So far, at least, spring training ballparks are drawing good crowds and NBA and NHL arenas are mostly full. There’s little sign of coronavirus panic among U.S. sports fans. But that may change. And soon. Two colleges this week canceled trips to the Seattle area for basketball games in the wake of an outbreak of coronavirus in Washington state, the first major U.S. sports disruptions because of the virus. In Las Vegas, where five conference tournament are played, officials announced the first positive virus test Thursday. The bottom line is that no one really knows.

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — The Northwest Athletic Conference community college women's basketball tournament was suspended after the host school was shut down because of coronavirus concerns. The tournament was in its third game of the day between North Idaho College and Lower Columbia when it was announced that Everett Community College was being closed through the weekend. The Everett, Washington, school later released a statement saying a student at the college had tested positive for coronavirus. Tournament officials say they will have details later on rescheduling the tournament.