By Kiersten Hacker
The Big Ten Conference announced a change in their fan attendance policies for remaining regular season competitions on March 24. The conference shifted from a policy of no fans to allowing schools to decide on spectator attendance in accordance with local health guidelines.
Maryland Athletics has decided to allow a limited number of fans to attend spring contests in a safe, socially distant manner following 4Maryland COVID-19 guidelines and requiring face-coverings. No tailgating will be permitted for any events.
“I guess it’s kind of something to be excited about, like check off the bucket list like ‘Oh I’m going,’” freshman journalism student Judith Altneu said.
Kirstin Nichols, a member of the University of Maryland cross country and track team, said she is also excited for spring sports to welcome back fans, especially family members since they are her biggest supporters. Nichols said it has been disappointing to not have her family members cheering her on this past year. She is looking forward to the small return to normality and the energetic environment created by spectators.
“It definitely makes a big difference. I forgot how much more fun these events are when there’s fans there,” Nichols said. “There’s just so much more excitement.”
Nichols said she wishes fans were permitted to attend fall sports since she was in the best shape possible in the fall, but no one could watch her run cross country. However, she said she is just happy to welcome them back now.
Terrapin Club members received priority for the sale of reserved tickets for the men’s lacrosse games at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium starting on March 29 and 30. If tickets are still available, the public can purchase them in advance. Some tickets will be held for students for the men’s lacrosse game on April 18 since it is after the two week quarantine period following the return from spring break.
Students can also attend sporting events in Bob ‘Turtle’ Smith Stadium, the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex, Ludwig Field, the Maryland Softball Stadium and the Xfinity Center Pavilion after April 5 through a first-come, first-served system by showing their student IDs at the box office of the venue on the day of competition.
These stadiums have a much lower capacity and a larger limit on spectators than Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium in order to comply with state and Prince George’s County COVID-19 guidelines. For events in these venues, there will be no public sales of tickets. Only members of the Terrapin Club or friends of program members will be able to obtain the limited number of tickets.
Because most spring sports are outside and more people are getting vaccinated, more people feel safer about limited fan attendance for sporting events. Altneu said she is unsure of whether she thinks COVID-19 cases will rise depending on different capacities for different stadiums, but it does feel safer as more people are vaccinated.
Sami Coccia, a freshman information systems student, said she feels that it is safe to allow fans to attend spring games. She also said she is excited to be able to experience a collegiate sporting event.
“I honestly don’t see a problem with it because when I walk around campus I see everyone wearing their masks and I feel like you can keep a distance,” Coccia said.
For Nichols, the spread of the coronavirus at spring sporting events is not her biggest concern, especially since most of the adults in her life are vaccinated.
“I’m not super worried. I mean honestly I know that most sports going on right now, really all of them I think, are outside. And outside I feel like there’s a lot more room for social distancing. And it’s less air circulating between people,” Nichols said.
Featured image: Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium will host a limited number of fans for the men’s lacrosse game and the spring football game. Photo by Kiersten Hacker.