The Coliseum, which was renovated before last season, has a capacity of 77,500 fansGETTY IMAGES
USC AD Mike Bohn in a letter to season-ticket holders declared that the school is "preparing for fans to be in the Coliseum stands this fall," according to Ryan Kartje of the L.A. TIMES. Bohn wrote that the school is "planning for 'a reduced capacity' Coliseum, but that any such plans were 'subject to change' based on local health and safety guidelines." The state of California has "not yet cleared the way for fans to return to sports stadiums." But a partially full Coliseum is "apparently a possibility." The stadium, which was renovated before last season, has a capacity of 77,500 fans. How much that capacity "will have to be cut -- and who will fill those open seats -- remains to be seen." A reduced capacity "inevitably means a significant loss in revenue for USC's athletic department." Roughly 85% of USC's athletics budget "comes from football, a sizable portion of which comes from season tickets, donations, concessions, parking and other game-day-related expenses" (L.A. TIMES, 6/17).
DOWN THE AISLE: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott yesterday confirmed that he met with college ADs around the state last week to "discuss limiting stadium capacity to 50% this fall." Abbott said that administrators "must focus on more than just spacing out fans through social distancing." He said, "It includes more than just the seating strategy. It includes the way people will go about the process of entering stadiums." Univ. of Texas Exec Senior Associate AD/External Affairs Drew Martin said that the school is "already looking at one-way aisles, line queues outside the restrooms and other acceptable safety standards" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 6/16).
