SAN ANTONIO — UTSA Athletics on Friday announced a comprehensive plan for fans to attend home basketball games as safely as possible this season at the Convocation Center.
The plan, which will allow attendance at a reduced capacity of 15% and with physical distancing measures, follows all state and local health directives and focuses on risk mitigation strategies that promote the safety of student-athletes, fans and staff. Since the situation remains fluid and continues to evolve, the plan is subject to change based on emerging information as well as local and state health developments.
"This plan's primary goal is to provide the safest experience possible for our home basketball games at the Convocation Center, much like what we have implemented for our home football games at the Alamodome," UTSA Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Lisa Campos said. "We have worked in coordination with university committees, local and state health experts, Conference USA and the NCAA to develop a plan that will help create a safe environment for our student-athletes, coaches, staff, fans and community. We're all in this together and it will require all of us to adhere to the safety protocols in place so that we can continue to cheer on our teams this year."
Based upon recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Texas Department of State Health Services, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, the UTSA Recovery Operations Committee and the UTSA Public Health Task Force, the following measures will be implemented at the Convocation Center:
- Face coverings are required to be worn properly (covering the nose and mouth) by all fans present at the Convocation Center, except when eating or drinking in their seat. Following State of Texas guidelines, exemptions apply for young children and persons who are unable to adjust or remove face coverings.
- Enhanced cleaning and sanitization procedures will be performed prior to and during all home games.
- Updated entrance and exit procedures for fans will be implemented to maximize physical distancing.
- All guests will be advised to practice physical distancing including standing at least six feet away from other groups of people not traveling with them while standing in lines.
- Numerous hand-sanitization stations have been installed throughout all public areas.
- UTSA has implemented updated protocols for all concessions areas. Both the upper and lower level concession stands will be in operation and serve only prepackaged items such as snacks, single-serve condiment packets and bottled/canned beverages. Additional safety measures, including cashless operations, plexiglass shields and floor markings to encourage physical distancing will be implemented.
- All game day operations staff will receive training on COVID-19 safety and sanitation protocols, including enhanced training for staff who may have more frequent guest contact.
- Capacity has been reduced to 15% (612) and no courtside or East side floor-level seats will be available for purchase this season.
Season tickets are available for purchase in blocks of two or four seats by contacting the UTSA Ticket Office at 210-458-UTSA (8872) or ticketoffice@utsa.edu.
For complete game day safety procedures, please visit http://goUTSA.com/utsafanguidelines.
The UTSA women's basketball team will open its home schedule on Wednesday, Nov. 25, against Sul Ross State. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at the Convocation Center. For the complete women's schedule, please visit https://goutsa.com/schedule.aspx?path=wbball.
The men's nonconference schedule is still being finalized, but the Roadrunners are tentatively slated to host their home opener on Friday, Dec. 4. For the latest schedule, please visit https://goutsa.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball.
-UTSA-