The boys state wrestling tournament, the girls state basketball tournament and the ice hockey state tourney will be staged in mainly empty arenas this weekend after the Ohio High School Athletic Association announced Tuesday it is limiting its events to immediate family members.
Following Governor Mike DeWine’s directive discouraging fan attendance at indoor sporting events in the state, OHSAA executive director Jerry Snodgrass said his organization felt it had no choice but to close state events to the general public.
“We are following the Governor’s instructions and are doing this for the safety of Ohioans,” said Snodgrass. “This is a very difficult time and we need our schools and fans to know that we have been told we must do this. We must pull together to do the best we can to conduct these tournaments so that the student-athletes can still finish their seasons, which have gotten them to the pinnacle of their sport.”
Boys basketball regional tournament games scheduled for Tuesday night were allowed to proceed with fans.
The OHSAA girls basketball state tournament begins Thursday at St. John Arena, the wrestling state tournament begins Friday at the Schottenstein Center and the ice hockey state tournament begins Saturday morning at Nationwide Arena.
There are six Logan County wrestlers that will compete in the state wrestling tourney. According to details released Tuesday night, wrestlers will be allowed to choose four immediate family members to attend the tournament. Those family members will be permitted to purchase all-session tickets. Individual session tickets will not be sold.
All previously purchased tickets for the upcoming state tournaments are now void and new tickets will be sold per the instructions below, per sport.
TICKET SALES
Tickets that were previously purchased online via credit card will be refunded by Ticketmaster to the same credit card. Tickets purchased via check will be refunded in approximately four to five weeks. Tickets purchased with cash at the Ohio State University ticket office can be returned for a refund on-site.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Per Governor DeWine’s directive, credentialed media members are still permitted to cover this week’s state and regional tournaments, as well as next week’s boys basketball state tournament. In addition, media outlets may provide live video of the regional boys basketball tournaments by paying the tape-delay rights fee.
STATE TOURNAMENT COMPONENTS CANCELLED
At all OHSAA state and regional tournaments this week and next week, all events surrounding the games are cancelled, including special presentations, halftime entertainment, various meetings, merchandise sales and other display booths.
REGIONAL BOYS BASKETBALL
Beginning Wednesday, student-athletes on the participating school tournament roster (players and cheerleaders) can designate four family members to purchase a ticket for the game. Coaches for that team can each designate two family members to purchase tickets. School administrators and the bus driver will each receive one free ticket for themselves and a guest.
STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL
Student-athletes on the 16 state qualifying teams will each be permitted to designate four family members who will be permitted to purchase single-session tickets at St. John Arena. Coaches and administrators of the state tournament teams will each be permitted to designate two family members to purchase tickets. Tickets will only be sold as single-session tickets.