The National Hockey League said it is continuing to consult with medical experts and evaluate its options in the wake of the NBA suspension over the coronavirus outbreak. The NHL said it expected to provide another update before the weekend.

At the time of writing, the NHL had not even made any declarations about holding games without fans. The Columbus Blue Jackets were the first team to announce that, beginning with their Thursday game against Pittsburgh. The San Jose Sharks said they would hold their three March home games in an empty arena.

Meanwhile, NCAA president Mark Emmert said that only essential staff and limited family will be allowed to attend NCAA basketball tournaments, draining games of their signature school spirit.

College tournaments for the Big Ten, Big 12, Big East, Pac-12, Southeastern, Atlantic Coast, Atlantic 10 and American Athletic conferences will be played without fans.

Agencies