Maryland basketball officially announces 100% fan capacity in 2021-22
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(Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)[/caption]
Professional teams are quickly lifting COVID-19 restrictions and fan capacity limits in both indoor and outdoor sports, while the same is being done for outdoor sports at the collegiate level. The NBA, NHL and MLB are all increasing fan capacity on a team-by-team, city-by-city basis, with some franchises already allowing 100 percent capacity -- the Texas Rangers actually opened the 2021 baseball season at full capacity, while others such as the Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks have since followed suit, along with 18 other teams having full-capacity dates set in the coming days and weeks. The NBA and NHL - both indoor sports - have not ruled out 100 percent fan capacities by the end of their respective postseasons this summer.
As for the collegiate level, the NCAA is already allowing full capacity for its spring championships, which includes baseball and softball tournaments. To take it a step further, several programs have already confirmed their football teams will host full venues this fall -- Alabama, Florida, Florida State and Texas have all announced 100 percent fan capacity at games, just to name a few.
Today, though, Maryland became the first school to announce it will allow full capacity at basketball games this year.
"With Prince George’s County lifting all capacity and distancing restrictions for indoor and outdoor sporting venues, Maryland Athletics is pleased to welcome fans, at full capacity, back to its sporting events for all 2021-22 athletic seasons, including football and basketball next school year," the school said in a press release. "In following the county guidelines, normal operations may resume with mask-wearing requirements in place. Face masks are required for all persons over the age of five, including those fully vaccinated, at all indoor venues, while on public transportation, and at crowded outdoor venues including concert venues and ticketed sporting events."
https://twitter.com/TerrapinHoops/status/1396830333702660100?s=20
Maryland did not allow spectators at games this past season due to COVID-19, with the football team being limited to just five games due to cancellations.
“We are very grateful to the officials in the state of Maryland, Prince George’s County and the University of Maryland who continued to safely navigate us through these difficult and unprecedented times,” athletic director Damon Evans added. “We knew the day would come when we could welcome our loyal Terp fans back to our venues at full capacity in a safe manner. This is wonderful news for our community and the entire state of Maryland. We are excited to have every seat available for our Terp Family to come out and cheer on our Terrapins.”
Will we see the same at Rupp Arena this season?
One can only hope.
(Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)[/caption]
Professional teams are quickly lifting COVID-19 restrictions and fan capacity limits in both indoor and outdoor sports, while the same is being done for outdoor sports at the collegiate level. The NBA, NHL and MLB are all increasing fan capacity on a team-by-team, city-by-city basis, with some franchises already allowing 100 percent capacity -- the Texas Rangers actually opened the 2021 baseball season at full capacity, while others such as the Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks have since followed suit, along with 18 other teams having full-capacity dates set in the coming days and weeks. The NBA and NHL - both indoor sports - have not ruled out 100 percent fan capacities by the end of their respective postseasons this summer.
As for the collegiate level, the NCAA is already allowing full capacity for its spring championships, which includes baseball and softball tournaments. To take it a step further, several programs have already confirmed their football teams will host full venues this fall -- Alabama, Florida, Florida State and Texas have all announced 100 percent fan capacity at games, just to name a few.
Today, though, Maryland became the first school to announce it will allow full capacity at basketball games this year.
"With Prince George’s County lifting all capacity and distancing restrictions for indoor and outdoor sporting venues, Maryland Athletics is pleased to welcome fans, at full capacity, back to its sporting events for all 2021-22 athletic seasons, including football and basketball next school year," the school said in a press release. "In following the county guidelines, normal operations may resume with mask-wearing requirements in place. Face masks are required for all persons over the age of five, including those fully vaccinated, at all indoor venues, while on public transportation, and at crowded outdoor venues including concert venues and ticketed sporting events."
https://twitter.com/TerrapinHoops/status/1396830333702660100?s=20
Maryland did not allow spectators at games this past season due to COVID-19, with the football team being limited to just five games due to cancellations.
“We are very grateful to the officials in the state of Maryland, Prince George’s County and the University of Maryland who continued to safely navigate us through these difficult and unprecedented times,” athletic director Damon Evans added. “We knew the day would come when we could welcome our loyal Terp fans back to our venues at full capacity in a safe manner. This is wonderful news for our community and the entire state of Maryland. We are excited to have every seat available for our Terp Family to come out and cheer on our Terrapins.”
Will we see the same at Rupp Arena this season?
One can only hope.
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