Attendance of Seattle Events to Be Banned Ahead of MLB, MLS, XFL Scheduled Games

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced a ban on public gatherings of more than 250 people in the Seattle metropolitan area Wednesday amid the outbreak of the coronavirus in the state.

According to the Seattle Times (h/t ESPN), the ban will include sporting events and concerts and could have a major impact on the XFL's Seattle Dragons, MLS' Seattle Sounders and MLB's Seattle Mariners.

The Dragons are set to host the L.A. Wildcats at CenturyLink Field on Sunday, while the Sounders are next scheduled to play at home March 21 when they face FC Dallas. The Mariners have home games scheduled from March 26 to April 1.

The Mariners released a statement following Inslee's announcement: 

Per USA Today's Bob Nightengale, one potential host site for the Mariners is their spring training complex in Arizona or at a neutral site. 

The XFL issued a statement announcing Sunday's game between the Dragons and Wildcats will be played as scheduled with no fans in attendance:    

The length of the ban isn't yet known, nor is it clear how teams will work around it. Other reported options include playing in front of no fans or postponing games until the ban is lifted.

Of the 260 confirmed cases in the state of Washington, 24 people have died, and most of the deaths have occurred in the Seattle area.

Per the Associated Press, at least 10 nursing homes around Seattle have reported residents testing positive for the coronavirus, and there have been deaths at three of the facilities.

The Dragons have drawn more than 20,000 fans for each of their two XFL home games this season, including the Feb. 22 game against the Dallas Renegades. It was shortly after that game that a CenturyLink Field concessions vendor who worked the event tested positive for the coronavirus.

Despite that, the King County press office released a statement saying those who attended the game were told they were at low risk of contracting the virus. The Sounders' MLS game against the Columbus Crew on March 7 also went forward as scheduled.

However, the MLS announced Wednesday that matches scheduled to be held in both Seattle and San Jose on March 21 have been postponed:

The University of Washington also announced all home athletic events will proceed as scheduled. However, they will be limited to student-athletes and family members as well as essential team personnel and recruits.

Looking elsewhere, first- and second-round games of the NCAA men's basketball tournament are scheduled to be played in Spokane, Washington, on March 19 and 21. No announcement has been made regarding whether other areas of Washington state may be subject to a ban.