Move FM Australian News

A quick look at major cancellations and changes in North American sport as coronavirus concerns intensify in the United States:

American Football

– NFL annual meeting 29 March to 1 April in Palm Beach, Florida, cancelled

– Multiple teams suspend travel of scouts and coaches who would normally be travelling to assess players in the build-up to the April 23 NFL Draft

Baseball

– Major League Baseball postpones scheduled 26 March start of 2020 season “at least two weeks.” Spring training games cancelled, 2020 World Baseball Classic qualifier postponed

Basketball

– NBA season suspended indefinitely, league announced action after dramatic postponement of Oklahoma City v Utah game. Two Utah Jazz players have tested positive for Covid-19

– Major college conference tournaments – The Big Ten, Big East, Atlantic Coast, Southeastern and Pacific 12 – shut down. The move puts pressure on the NCAA “March Madness” Tournament, set to begin next Tuesday, which is so far scheduled to go ahead without spectators

Figure Skating

– World Figure Skating Championships scheduled for Montreal 16 to 22 March cancelled on authority of Canadian and Quebec provincial health officials. International Skating Union to consider possibility of staging a 2020 championships in October or later

Football

– MLS suspends season for 30 days (from 12 March)

– US men’s friendlies v Netherlands in Eindhoven on 26 March and v Wales in Cardiff on 30 March cancelled

– US women’s friendlies v Australia in Sandy, Utah on 10 April and v Brazil on 14 April in San Jose, California, cancelled

– Mexico men’s friendlies v Czech Republic in Charlotte, North Carolina on 26 March and v Greece in Arlington, Texas, on 29 March cancelled

Golf

– US PGA Tour to ban spectators from tournaments through 5 April. Move covers final three rounds of Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, the Valspar Championship in Tampa, Florida, the WGC Match-Play in Austin, Texas and the Texas Open in San Antonio which concludes on 5 April. PGA Tour event in the Dominican Republic opposite the WGC Match-Play is postponed

Ice hockey

– NHL season suspended with announced goal of resuming play “as soon as it is appropriate”

– Women’s World Championship to be held in Canada from 31 March to 10 April cancelled

Motor racing

– IndyCar season opener 15 March in St. Petersburg, Florida, to run with spectators banned

– NASCAR stock car race Atlanta Speedway on 14 March and at Homestead-Miami Speedway on 22 March to run with spectators banned

Tennis

– Indian Wells ATP Masters and WTA tournament scheduled for 11 to 22 March cancelled

– Miami Open ATP Masters and WTA tournament scheduled for 23 March to 5 April cancelled by Miami-Dade County mayor Carlos Gimenez

– Houston ATP tournament 6 to 12 April cancelled as part of ATP Tour worldwide six-week suspension