Pro Sports Leagues Temporarily Limit Locker Room Access to Players and Essential Staff

Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL) today issued the following joint statement:

“After consultation with infectious disease and public health experts, and given the issues that can be associated with close contact in pre- and post-game settings, all team locker rooms and clubhouses will be open only to players and essential employees of teams and team facilities until further notice. Media access will be maintained in designated locations outside of the locker room and clubhouse setting. These temporary changes will be effective beginning with tomorrow’s games and practices.

“We will continue to closely monitor this situation and take any further steps necessary to maintain a safe and welcoming environment.”

In response, the Associated Press Sports Editors released a joint statement along with six other entities:

We the entities covering pro and college sports in North America are concerned with the developing international outbreak of coronavirus and the need to contain it. We understand precautions may be necessary in the name of public health. We are intent on working with the leagues, teams and schools we cover to maintain safe work environments. We also must ensure the locker room access — which we have negotiated over decades — to players, coaches and staff is not unnecessarily limited in either the short or long term. We look forward to open communication with the leagues as, together, we deal with this serious health matter.

Signed:

Todd M. Adams, President, Associated Press Sports Editors
Bob Glauber, President, Pro Football Writers of America
Kevin Laramee, President, North American Soccer Reporters
Malcolm Moran, Executive Director, United States Basketball Writers Association
Josh Robbins, President, Professional Basketball Writers Association
Frank Seravalli, President, Professional Hockey Writers Association
Paul Sullivan, President, Baseball Writers Association of America

 

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