What happened at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa? MLB GM meet in Scottsdale cut short after executives come down with virus
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA: The meeting of Major League Baseball (MLB) General Managers at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa reportedly ended prematurely due to a virus outbreak.
The meeting, with over 300 officials in attendance, was reportedly canceled after more than 30 executives fell ill. The illness, initially suspected to be food poisoning, was later determined to be a contagious stomach bug, per Sports Illustrated.
What was the MLB GM meeting for?
The executives were at the resort for the annual MLB GM meetings, a platform for team front-office leaders to discuss player moves and free agency.
However, the event took an unfortunate turn when numerous participants fell ill on Wednesday.
What was The Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa's response?
The Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa released a statement responding to the incident. "We are working with all appropriate parties to determine the cause of illness and will continue to follow safety protocols for the protection of our guests and staff, including wellness checks and contact tracing," a representative for the resort said.
They also assured that all guestrooms, banquet rooms, and kitchens are thoroughly disinfected and sanitized per the hotel’s strict cleaning standards.
The Maricopa County Health Department confirmed they follow virus outbreak protocols but did not release additional details.
What exactly caused the outbreak?
The origin and type of the disease remain unclear, according to a knowledgeable source, per SI.
The illness could be foodborne, potentially stemming from Tuesday’s lunch buffet - the only shared meal among those affected. Alternatively, it could be an infectious norovirus.
The absence of any reported sickness since Wednesday morning might suggest food poisoning. However, some of those who fell ill have stated that they did not partake in the buffet, indicating the possibility of an infectious disease.
League adopts safety measures
In a precautionary measure, the league instructed food servers at the Omni Montelucia Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona, to don masks and gloves on Wednesday, and prohibited executives from self-serving.
The league also dispatched a memo to teams, soliciting them to report any illnesses to enable officials to monitor the outbreak, and extended help from the Diamondbacks’ team doctors.
The outbreak has affected nearly all teams, as well as the league office, which has reported illnesses among approximately eight officials.