Philadelphia Union postpones Meet the Team event over coronavirus concerns

A Meet the Team event schedule for March 11 has been postponed by the Philadelphia Union over growing concerns with the spread of the coronavirus.

The team released a statement on Friday announcing the decision after consulting with Major League Soccer and the Centers for Disease Control:

On the recommendation of Major League Soccer, in consultation with the CDC, all MLS players have been advised to avoid high-fiving and taking items (pens, markers, balls, jerseys, etc.) to sign autographs. A similar recommendation has been issued by other professional sports leagues. In consideration of these recommendations, the Philadelphia Union will reschedule the March 11 Meet the Team autograph event at Dave and Buster’s.

Our goal as a club is to create a memorable experience that fans and players look forward to every year. Due to the interactive nature of the Meet the Team event, which consists of autograph signings and photos with players, the Union, in consultation with regional health authorities, Major League Soccer, and our internal medical experts, have decided to reschedule in order to deliver the experience that fans have come to expect. As soon as a new date and time have been set, the club will make an announcement.

The first “presumed cases” of the coronavirus in the Delaware Valley were reported on Friday. They include cases in Delaware and Wayne counties in Pennsylvania and one in Camden County, N.J.