As part of its action to combat the spread of COVID-19, the University announced Wednesday that it will be canceling all events on campus convening over 100 people through April 21.
Per an official athletic department release, the ban extends to all U-M home athletic competitions. Those competitions will “be played as scheduled with only student-athletes, coaches, officials, essential personnel and a limit of two family members per participant in attendance,” according to the release.
In addition to games, the Michigan football team’s annual open spring practice and the annual Big House 5K have both been cancelled. The status of the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships, scheduled for April 17-18, and the CWPA Championships, scheduled for April 24-26, are both uncertain.
Due to the Ivy League cancelling all athletic events for the rest of the school year, additional affected events include the rowing team’s meet vs. Harvard and Yale on March 28 as well as the water polo team’s games against Princeton on March 28, Brown on March 29, Brown on March 4, Harvard on April 5 and Princeton on April 10.
However, practices for all in-season Michigan teams will take place as scheduled with only essential personnel. Essential travel will be “addressed on a case-by-case basis,” per the release, though that does not extend to off-campus recruiting trips, which will be halted until at least April 21.
Fans who held single-game tickets will be refunded by the University ticket office, while season ticket holders will be partially refunded.
Additionally, this weekend’s Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament will be played without fans starting on March 12, contrary to previous plans that it would go ahead with fans. The NCAA Tournament will also be played without fans, starting as previously planned on March 17.
Michigan hockey’s Big Ten semifinal game in Columbus, Ohio on Sunday will also be played without spectators, after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced an order that no fans will be allowed at games in the state.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.