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Report: Warriors won't cancel games, but will tell fans team isn't liable if they contract coronavirus

jack baer
Staff writer
·3 min read

The Golden State Warriors will continue playing games at their new Chase Center despite the spread of the recent coronavirus, as well as the pleas of multiple San Francisco officials according to Mission Local's Joe Eskenazi.

Several sporting events in the neighboring Santa Clara County have already been canceled by mandatory order of the county’s Public Health Department, including three San Jose Sharks home games.

A similar action might be required for the Warriors to follow suit. However, the team did acknowledge the dangers of the coronavirus in signs posted around the Chase Center on Tuesday saying it wasn’t liable if fans contract coronavirus in the arena.

Coronavirus won’t make Warriors cancel games ... yet

From Mission Local:

“I have personally spoken to the head of the Warriors organization, Rick Welts,” said Supervisor Aaron Peskin. “I have expressed my desire that they do this voluntarily before, in the days ahead, we do it as an emergency public health order. It’s not a matter of ‘if.’ It’s a matter of ‘when.’ I hope they come to that conclusion before we make them come to that conclusion.”

The office of San Francisco mayor London Breed also released a number of recommendations on Friday to combat the spread of the virus, including the cancellation of “non-essential events.”

Sporting events were mentioned specifically by name in the recommendations of large gatherings that should be canceled or postponed, though there might be some quibbling over what should be considered “non-essential.”

According to Mission Local, the Warriors were directly presented with the recommendations and their response was summarized as “thanks for the recommendations.” The mayor’s office has reportedly not yet discussed a more forceful tack.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 05: An exterior view of the Chase Center before the Golden State Warriors game against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 05, 2019 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Warriors won't close off games, but they will make it clear that fans can't sue them if they contract coronavirus at those games. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The team is declining to cancel games against the advice of health experts. Dr. John Swartzberg, an infectious-disease expert at UC Berkeley, told The Athletic that the NBA should not be hosting games during the spread of the coronavirus:

When pressed for further explanation he said, “I think large gatherings of people in closed environments in the case of a pandemic is not prudent. It’s the perfect way to spread the virus.”

Warriors tell fans team isn’t liable if they get coronavirus

The Warriors — who currently sit in last place in the Western Conference at 15-49 — have six home games remaining in the month of March, including a date against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.

While they aren’t canceling the games, the threat is apparently big enough that the team posted several signs around the Chase Center on Tuesday advising fans that their attendance could increase their risk of contracting the coronavirus and they voluntarily assume all risks by entering the arena.

The Warriors will also observe the recent NBA orders to close off locker rooms to all media and any non-essential personnel. We’ll see if they take any further action, or are made to take it.

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