The First Domino Has Fallen

[crixus]

Californians will finally be allowed to attend outdoor sporting events, in limited numbers.

https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id...porting-events

[Wildcat Khan]

Anchorage hockey is still up in the air - the Seattle Kraken have stepped up to help support them. Anchorage is in the Kraken's broadcasting area.

Seattle Kraken pro hockey team tries to help Seawolves meet fundraising goal - Alaska Public Media

This is an update on the situation as a whole - the original deadline was 2/28, but the Board of Regents has extended the deadline out to August. They have roughly 50% raised:

Alaska regents extend fundraising deadline to save Alaska Anchorage hockey team | College Hockey | USCHO.com

My fear with this "community-supported" model is that I can see some AD's offloading the cost of the program onto the fans under threat of cancellation. It probably won't happen across the board, but at a time where universities are refusing to take any responsibility for their finances - I could see this being a thing, at times.

Here is something from the Seattle Kraken themselves: https://www.nhl.com/kraken/news/savi...ry/c-321850472

In July they will officially have players on the team after the expansion draft and still look to play this fall. As for UAA, I hope that they can raise this money and maybe one of the oil companies in Alaska can help too.

[crixus]

Citing financial difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fairmont Hotel, a landmark in downtown San Jose, closed its doors, but said it will reopen and resume operations in two to three months, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Is this sports related? Read on...

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/...res-bankruptcy

[laker]

News release- Super Bowl was not the super spreader.

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcar...spreader-event

D3 MIAC to resume spring sports in Minnesota.

https://www.twincities.com/2021/03/0...e-fall-sports/

[SW_Mustang]

Anchorage hockey is still up in the air - the Seattle Kraken have stepped up to help support them. Anchorage is in the Kraken's broadcasting area.

Seattle Kraken pro hockey team tries to help Seawolves meet fundraising goal - Alaska Public Media

This is an update on the situation as a whole - the original deadline was 2/28, but the Board of Regents has extended the deadline out to August. They have roughly 50% raised:

Alaska regents extend fundraising deadline to save Alaska Anchorage hockey team | College Hockey | USCHO.com

My fear with this "community-supported" model is that I can see some AD's offloading the cost of the program onto the fans under threat of cancellation. It probably won't happen across the board, but at a time where universities are refusing to take any responsibility for their finances - I could see this being a thing, at times.

[SW_Mustang]

I decided to check their chances at basketball tournament money, although conferences spread that out. They are currently .5 games ahead of Southern Utah in the Big Sky. It wouldn't surprise me if part of the shortfall in money is also due to no tournament money going to these smaller schools from last year's canceled tournament, which will hit the mid major and low major schools a lot harder than the power school conferences.

That makes sense, though if that's the straw that broke the camel's back - it might just be time for them to move downward.

[SW_Mustang]

Here's some good news - the MIAC (DIII) announcing a spring season for fall sports - not sure if that includes Tommies vs. Johnnies yet.

MIAC Announces Plans for Spring Competition - Saint John's University Athletics (gojohnnies.com)

[crixus]

West Virginia Mountaineers baseball has been put on hold due to Covid-19. That's a bummer, I was looking forward to their home opener series with Kent State this weekend and the in state rival game with Marshall on Tuesday, March 9th. All four of these games were going to be streamed on ESPN+.

https://wvusports.com/news/2021/3/2/...-baseball.aspx

[Wildcat Khan]

University of Portland has been cleared due to a false positive due to a "technical error" https://portlandpilots.com/news/2021...0announcement.

I hope nothing like this happens to a tournament team that keeps them out. This kept them from playing their games last week.

[Wildcat Khan]

I just hope they keep football. D2 might be a nice fit for them if they are struggling financially at FCS.

I decided to check their chances at basketball tournament money, although conferences spread that out. They are currently .5 games ahead of Southern Utah in the Big Sky. It wouldn't surprise me if part of the shortfall in money is also due to no tournament money going to these smaller schools from last year's canceled tournament, which will hit the mid major and low major schools a lot harder than the power school conferences.

[SW_Mustang]

I don't remember seeing it before, but there's been so much bad news in the past year that were now on page 91. Eastern Washington has had a great football program over the years and I'd hate to see them shut their doors for good. Dropping down to D2 would be good news for the GNAC, because I'm pretty sure that's where they'd go. I hope they stay at FCS, they won a National Championship there in 2010 which was their first season playing on a red turf.

I just hope they keep football. D2 might be a nice fit for them if they are struggling financially at FCS.

[crixus]

Maybe this was already shared, but Eastern Washington looking at either dropping football or moving the whole AD down to DII or DIII

EWU weighing options for athletic department - YakTriNews.com

I don't remember seeing it before, but there's been so much bad news in the past year that were now on page 91. Eastern Washington has had a great football program over the years and I'd hate to see them shut their doors for good. Dropping down to D2 would be good news for the GNAC, because I'm pretty sure that's where they'd go. I hope they stay at FCS, they won a National Championship there in 2010 which was their first season playing on a red turf.

[SW_Mustang]

Maybe this was already shared, but Eastern Washington looking at either dropping football or moving the whole AD down to DII or DIII

EWU weighing options for athletic department - YakTriNews.com

[Wildcat Khan]

MLB delays AAA season for at least a month due to Covid-19 concerns.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...th-sources-say

I hope they can at least play intrasquad games in case of injury/performance call ups. If not this could drastically effect the MLB teams in case of major injuries that require time on the IL.

[crixus]

MLB delays AAA season for at least a month due to Covid-19 concerns.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...th-sources-say