As the athletics, fitness and recreation industries take up the challenge of responding to the COVID-19 crisis, we at AB Today want to offer our readers an occasional snapshot of coverage from across the internet. Below you’ll find stories we’ve come across that we hope you might find interesting and some that may help inform your decision-making process as you navigate the current environment.
Arkansas AD Expects SEC Distribution to Drop by $3M Per School
Razorbacks athletic director Hunter Yurachek told school trustees recently that he is expecting between $2 and $3 million less in conference distributions this year. NBC Sports
Coronavirus Cancellations Are Impacting Fan’s Ability to Release Emotions at Games
Since March 11th, the day Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for the coronavirus which prompted not only the cancellation of Utah’s road game that night versus Oklahoma City but led to an indefinite suspension of the NBA’s season, most of the attention has understandably been on the more visible dominoes within the sports ecosystem. Forbes
Atlanta Economy Will Be Hit Hard by Final Four Cancellation
The area in downtown Atlanta called Centennial Olympic Park was built because of sporting events. It all started with the 1996 Olympics when the park replaced worn-out, dilapidated warehouses and vacant lots. The city started to bet on sports as a tourism driver and hotels and restaurants started to pop up around the basketball arena and the since torn down Georgia Dome, which has been replaced by Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Forbes
Coronavirus and the Olympics: Should the Summer Games go on?
For a day, maybe, it seemed that Stanford alumnus Katerina Stefanidi and other Olympians had finally gotten International Olympic Committee leaders to wake up as they barrel onward in pursuit of holding the Tokyo Games this summer. The Mercury News
University of Kentucky Offers Ticket Refunds, Barnhart Suggest ‘Donation’
University of Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart, in a letter to the Big Blue Nation on Wednesday, announced plans for ticket refunds for fans who had already made purchases for events canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Lexington Herald-Leader
Siena Men’s Basketball Team Told to Self-Isolate After Possible Virus Exposure
Two officials who worked the Siena men's basketball team's final game of the season last Wednesday have tested positive for coronavirus, the Siena athletic department confirmed Wednesday night. Times Union
ViacomCBS Could See $350M Ad Hit in Wake of Basketball Cancellations
ViacomCBS could see a $350 million hit this quarter on the cancellation of the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament, says one media analyst. David Miller from Imperial Capital has cut earnings forecasts for the company and his price target for the stock, which is down 16% Wednesday. Yahoo Sports
