ORLANDO – The Coronavirus, COVID19, had started to wreak havoc across the globe, and especially here in the Sunshine State. Colleges are forcing students to stay home, spring break is cancelled and the airlines appear to by flying ghost flights. Sports wise, cancellations thus far include the Miami Open, NBA basketball, MLS Soccer, NASCAR in Miami, Sebring 24 Hours Race and most other pro sports. MLB was the latest professional sports league to announce a delayed start to the season and a cancellation of Spring Training. Locally, UCF Athletics Department is closely monitoring the COVID-19 virus outbreak. UCF officials are working with the university, local and state health departments, the American Athletic Conference and the NCAA to take proactive steps with this fluid situation. At this time, there is no recommendation to entirely cancel UCF athletics events. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.

UCF plans to continue its athletic competition and practice schedules—however beginning today spectators will no longer be permitted at upcoming Knights’ home athletic contests. Only student-athletes, coaches, essential event and administrative staff, television partners, credentialed media and immediate family members of participants will be permitted to attend home events. No determination has been made on how long this policy will be in effect. UCF will continue to provide updates as available.

Refunds for fans who have purchased single game tickets to upcoming sporting events, beginning with the baseball games against Yale this weekend will be automatically refunded in the next 7-10 business days. Refunds for additional upcoming events will be refunded within 7-10 business days after the scheduled event date, assuming the event is cancelled. UCF will work with season ticket holders at the end of the regular season to determine the impact and offer a partial refund. Fans with questions may contact the UCF ticket office at 407-823-1000 or tickets@athletics.ucf.edu.

Fans can continue to follow the Knights home contests via live streaming at UCFKnights.tv, Twitch channels ucfknightstv1 and ucfknightstv2.

UCF vice president and athletics director Danny White announced those details as he and his staff continue to monitor the fast-moving reactions to the coronavirus (COVID-19) matter.

“First and foremost, we will continue to make decisions in the best interests of the health and safety of our student-athletes and all others connected with our athletic teams and program. This is a situation that, quite obviously, is evolving very quickly from one day to the next,” says White.

“In general, we expect to mirror the philosophies and policies determined by the NCAA, the American Athletic Conference and our University--and the health experts providing guidance to all of them. There are a great many moving pieces here and we will continue to be flexible in doing everything we can to support our athletic programs during this challenging and unique time.”

UCF announced Wednesday that it will move to online instruction beginning Monday for at least the next two weeks. For additional details on the university’s plans, please visit https://www.ucf.edu/safety/coronavirus/

For more information about the coronavirus, prevention, symptoms, etc., please visit www.cdc.gov as a helpful resource.

Keep an eye out for the next month to see what will happen in other Florida news…..this will eventually end, hopefully sooner than later.

Photos: Alex Menendez