Ames being named a COVID-19 hot spot led to Iowa State changing its attendance plansGETTY IMAGES
Iowa State has "made a dramatic reversal" regarding its football attendance policy, as the school now is "barring fans from attending the Cyclones' season-opening game Sept. 12 at Jack Trice Stadium after announcing Monday its intention to allow for up to 25,000 fans," according to Travis Hines of the DES MOINES REGISTER. Monday's decision "happened against the backdrop that Ames had been named the country's worst coronavirus hot spot." ISU President Wendy Wintersteen said, "After receiving considerable concerns from the community about the plans for the season opening football game, we realized that we were proposing too much, too soon." Hines notes ISU's initial decision to "allow for about 40% capacity was the most lenient in the Big 12." The school has "not ruled out hosting fans at future games this season," and the next opportunity would be Oct. 3. ISU "sold only season tickets this summer, capping the total available at 30,000." Since then, about 5,000 season-ticket holders opted out, and ISU AD Jamie Pollard "anticipated more would this week after the socially distant assigned seats were revealed" (DES MOINES REGISTER, 9/3). In Des Moines, Randy Peterson writes the "correct decision was eventually reached," but the last couple days "have been a curious rollout" (DES MOINES REGISTER, 9/3).
TAKING PRECAUTIONS: In Orlando, Matt Murschel notes UCF will have 25% capacity -- approximately 11,000 fans -- for all four home games this season, and 3,000 of those seats "will be allocated to students with tickets being distributed through a lottery process." All tickets "will be digital" beginning this season. Suites, premium seating and field cabanas "will be utilized this season but with reduced capacities." Anyone attending a game including staff is "required to wear a face mask at all times except while eating or drinking in their seats" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9/3).
