:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66487007/Illinois_Field_Champaign_IL.0.jpg)
You’ve said your last ILL in person this season.
Along with the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament’s ban on fans in attendance, it’ll affect spring sports too.
Here’s a portion of the Big Ten Conference’s statement Wednesday.
Additionally, all further Big Ten Conference winter and spring sport competitions, including championship/tournament events, will also be limited to student-athletes, coaches, event staff, essential team and Conference staff, TV network partners, credentialed media, and immediate family members of the participating teams.
That means that all of the spring sports, including Illinois Baseball and Softball, will be without fans for the remainder of the season. It will be limited to media, TV crews, essential staff and immediate family members.
Illinois Softball is slated to host this year’s Big Ten Tournament.
The following statement was issued by the University of Illinois’ Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Wednesday night.
“For obvious reasons, we regret today’s decisions, which will have immediate and far-reaching implications for all people and partners involved in college athletics and, specifically, Fighting Illini Athletics. However, the health and safety of our student-athletes and their families, our coaches and staff, and our fans and campus communities must always remain at the forefront of our decisions. Current events are unprecedented in our history. The situation remains fluid and is evolving by the day and the hour. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.
Our top priority is the safety of our student-athletes and all of those who attend our events as we continue to monitor all relevant information on the COVID-19 virus. Events are changing very quickly and all policies and decisions could be further amended at any time.”
With that said, here at The Champaign Room, we promise to continue to give you the type of coverage that you have expected from us over the years, with us being in attendance at as many sporting events as possible covering in person, beginning at this Friday’s Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis.