Menu
Colleges

Univ. Of Texas Now Looking At 25% Capacity For Football Games

A crowd of 25,000 at UT games would likely be comprised of parents, close friends and some studentsGETTY IMAGES

Interim Univ. of Texas President Jay Hartzell has indicated that the school is "looking at the possibility of a 25% stadium capacity -- about 19,119 fans -- this football season," according to Brian Davis of the AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. In June, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statewide mandate for a 50% stadium capacity on all pro and college athletic stadiums to combat the spread of COVID-19. UT AD Chris Del Conte has insisted that the school "would follow all state guidelines -- meaning Royal-Memorial Stadium would be only half full." However, UT System Board of Regents Chair Kevin Eltife asked that Hartzell "look at the smaller capacity." As such, Hartzell in an email yesterday wrote the school will make its "final decisions based on the guidance of our Board of Regents and state health officials in the coming weeks." Davis notes Hartzell’s email is an "admission that having 50,000 people inside the 100,000-seat venue may not work." A crowd of approximately 25,000 "would likely be comprised of parents, close friends and some students." UT "would likely cull the names from the top of its Longhorn Foundation priority points list to determine which season ticket holders would gain admission." UT has given season-ticket holders the "option of opting out of this season and keeping their same seat location" for '21 (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 7/30). 

FOLLOWING SUIT? In Ft. Worth, Drew Davison notes other Texas-based schools "could make similar announcements in the coming days." TCU AD Jeremiah Donati said, "We're modeling a number of options including 50%, although that seems less likely." For TCU, operating at 25% capacity "would limit crowds to 11,500 at Amon G. Carter Stadium." Texas A&M's Kyle Field "would be able to hold just over 25,500" (Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM, 7/30).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: April 25, 2024

Motor City's big weekend; Kevin Warren's big bet; Bill Belichick's big makeover and the WNBA's big week continues

TNT’s Stan Van Gundy, ESPN’s Tim Reed, NBA Playoffs and NFL Draft

On this week’s pod, SBJ’s Austin Karp has two Big Get interviews. The first is with TNT’s Stan Van Gundy as he breaks down the NBA Playoffs from the booth. Later in the show, we hear from ESPN’s VP of Programming and Acquisitions Tim Reed as the NFL Draft gets set to kick off on Thursday night in Motown. SBJ’s Tom Friend also joins the show to share his insights into NBA viewership trends.

SBJ I Factor: Molly Mazzolini

SBJ I Factor features an interview with Molly Mazzolini. Elevate's Senior Operating Advisor – Design + Strategic Alliances chats with SBJ’s Ross Nethery about the power of taking chances. Mazzolini is a member of the SBJ Game Changers Class of 2016. She shares stories of her career including co-founding sports design consultancy Infinite Scale career journey and how a chance encounter while working at a stationery store launched her career in the sports industry. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2020/07/30/Colleges/Texas.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2020/07/30/Colleges/Texas.aspx

CLOSE