Throughout the process of communicating our plan regarding the state basketball tournaments in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have maintained that the tournaments would be played unless a state agency or a host venue made a decision affecting that status.
On Thursday evening, the CHSAA office was informed by the University of Denver that the school would no longer be able to host the Class 3A state basketball tournament.
With uncertainty at all additional sites, including a state of emergency declaration by the City of Denver, the difficult decision has been made to cancel the remainder of all state basketball tournaments in all classes.
“Everything we’ve done up to this point was to try and keep the experience of a state basketball tournament for our student participants and high school communities,” said CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green. “In the face of this unprecedented public health emergency, we are compelled to discontinue play in all tournaments.”
The move is in line with similar decisions from the NCAA, which cancelled all remaining winter sports championships and spring sports championships. Additionally, other high school associations, such as Connecticut, Oregon, Texas, California and Kentucky have made similar announcements. Some of those, including Wisconsin and Kansas, canceled on Thursday night.
“We want to thank those who have supported us through the difficult decisions in these uncertain times,” Blanford-Green said.
With the decision to limit fans to four guests per player at the state basketball tournament, the following is information for ticket refunds for those unable to attend the tournament.
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Class 1A/3A tournaments
Refunds are automatic, and have been processed. Receipts will arrive shorts.
The refunds will include the entire purchase – the ticket price and fees.
We will send fans a refund receipt to the email address used at purchase once the refund has processed.
Refunds can take up to 10 days to appear on a fan’s statement.
Class 2A tournament
No advance tickets were sold online.
For advance tickets bought in person, please visit the box office for a refund.
Class 4A/5A tournaments
AXS will be processing automatic refunds.
The refunds will include the entire purchase – the ticket price and fees.
With the volume of events cancelling/postponing nationwide, refunds may take up to 30 days.
All spring sports and activities will be suspended until early April to address concerns surrounding the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green announced on Thursday.
The 2020 spring sports season — including all practices and competition — the state speech tournament, and student leadership’s Advisor U are suspended through April 6. All music festivals are canceled through April 6. Additionally, an outreach with the Colorado Athletic Directors Association will be conducted remotely at a date to be announced.
The decision is effective Friday, March 13. The decision to continue competition on Thursday is up to local schools and school districts.
The situation will be monitored and evaluated with key decision-makers from around the state to determine when, or if, to resume the spring season.
On Wednesday morning, Blanford-Green convened a digital conference with more than 50 administrators, representing diverse levels of leadership from all parts of the state to collaboratively create a plan. That group arrived at a consensus to support the decision made by the CHSAA office.
“I want to thank the Board of Directors, membership and CHSAA staff for their support and guidance,” Blanford-Green said. “The collaborative decision-making has been in the best interest of our students and school communities, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
Further information about the spring sports season will be communicated via CHSAANow, when available.
Over the course of the past week, our office communicated consistently said that our plan is to hold our state championships events without changes unless directed otherwise by a state agency or facility administration.
On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., Gov. Jared Polis announced that the state wants large public gatherings, including sporting events, “to establish protocols where they can establish safe spacing at events” to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
After the press conference, CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green consulted with state educational and health departments, and they advised a higher standard of risk minimization than originally communicated with the additional cases that have been reported in Colorado over the last 24 hours.
Logistically — and with the state tournaments set to begin in less than 13 hours — this goal of social spacing is beyond the scope of our host facilities. In addition, at least one of our venues has indicated that we would not be able to host games with fans in attendance for the bulk of the tournament.
Therefore, we are making the difficult decision to limit attendance to essential team personnel only, without fans in attendance. Essential personnel means only those who have been submitted on the official CHSAA gate list by schools will be able to enter the venue. No spirit teams or bands will be permitted entry. Media will be permitted to attend, if they have a CHSAA-issued pass.
In response to several inquiries from family members of participants, each player will be allowed to have a maximum of four guests attend games. CHSAA assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann will be communicating directly with schools on instructions of how those guests will enter the venues, and how things will operate within the venue.
Games in all classifications will be available on the NFHS Network this weekend, meaning fans will not miss out on the tournament. Additionally, CHSAANow.com will be providing live coverage of the games.
The decision is being made based upon recommendations by health officials in all areas, and follows decisions made by neighboring states, and the NCAA, including their postseason events being held in Colorado.
“While this decision is a difficult one, we do want the students who have worked so hard to be able to have a culminating event that reflects the commitment they have made throughout the season,” Blanford-Green said.
“We knew that this was an evolving situation, and our goal was to have a tournament that goes on without interruption,” Blanford-Green said. “But circumstances have changed with this pandemic, and the focus must now be on how we give the kids the experience of a state champ event.”
A refund policy for tickets purchased will be communicated on Thursday.
Our office will continue to monitor this situation closely, and provide updates if necessary.
We continue to support our member schools and school districts, and the local decisions they are making in the best interest of their students and communities.
During his press conference, Gov. Polis stressed the need for community help in combating the virus.
“I know that many Coloradoans are upset, frustrated and, in fact, scared,” Polis said. “Some are disappointed that your conference or your graduations or your gatherings are cancelled … and those are normal feelings. We all understand that, and we all share that. But we need you to be part of working with us of doing everything we can at the state level to respond to this virus, and to reduce the trajectory of its spread.”
