Fans will not be in attendance for the Texans' home opener Sunday against the RavensGETTY IMAGES
The Texans are in the process of "gaining approval from city and Harris County officials to host a maximum of 15,000 fans at NRG Stadium as soon as their Oct. 4 game" against the Vikings, according to Aaron Wilson of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. The team submitted to city and county officials an "Infectious Disease Emergency Response plan that's audited by the NFL," and that plan is "being reviewed." Sunday's home opener against the Ravens will not have fans in attendance. Texans President Jamey Rootes "expressed optimism that the plan will ultimately gain approval." Wilson notes the steps the Texans have taken include "upgrading the cleaning standards to medical grade at their training facility," and at the stadium, "installing 500 sanitizing stations, maintaining social distancing with seats that will be zip tied, touchless and cashless transactions, mobile tickets and staggered entry." The Texans played in the season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in front of 15,895 fans, after which a Chiefs fan "tested positive for COVID-19 with the Kansas City health department directing 10 people to quarantine that were in contact with the person." Rootes said, "That's one of the reasons why we made a commitment early on that we were not going to have fans for our first game. I'm all for innovation and blazing a trail, but I'd rather spend some time learning" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/18).
