2020-21 UTSA Fan Attendance Safety Plan

The UTSA Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has worked closely with university and local government and health officials to provide detailed plans of action for the return of UTSA home events.
 
UTSA Athletics will follow all national, state, local, university, Conference USA and NCAA guidelines to create a healthy and safe environment for all participants, spectators, staff and third-party vendors at all UTSA home events. UTSA Athletics will closely monitor the ever-changing landscape and adjust practices and protocols as needed.
 
The plan will allow attendance at a reduced capacity and with physical distancing measures. It 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.

UPDATE (3/10/21): In accordance with UTSA and UT System guidance, all UTSA Athletics home events will continue to follow current COVID-19 protocols and guidelines related to face coverings, physical distancing and reduced capacity for attendance. These protocols will remain in place until further notice.
 
Below are current measures, organized by topic in alphabetical order, that have been implemented for 2020-21 UTSA home events.

ARRIVAL, ENTRY & EXIT

arrival 

All guests are highly encouraged to conduct a health assessment prior to visiting UTSA’s campus. Please visit here for more information.

ENTRY 

Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance online or via phone. For events with public ticket sales, the box office will open one hour prior for in-person sales.

UTSA Athletics will utilize mobile ticketing for all ticket purchases, including student tickets, when possible.

exit 

Fans will be encouraged to exit the facility through the door or gate closest to their seat. For example, fans seated toward the north end of the Convocation Center will use the glass doors on the north side (back lobby) to exit.

Fans may not congregate inside the Convocation Center following the conclusion of the game.


CLEANING & SANITIZING

Enhanced cleaning and sanitization procedures will be performed prior to and during all home events.

hand sanitizing stations 

UTSA has installed numerous hand sanitizing stations throughout public areas inside each venue.

staff training 

COVID-19 specific training will be provided to all UTSA staff and third-party vendors working at the facility on game day. Training programs will focus on a variety of topics including general health and safety awareness, hygiene, cough etiquette, cleanliness, self-screening, disinfecting processes, proper use of face coverings, and if applicable, use of personal protective equipment (PPE).


GAME DAY OPERATIONS

concessions 

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.

elevators 

Elevator occupancy will be limited to ADA guests and those truly needing vertical transportation. Elevator capacity is limited to two (2) persons.

face coverings 

Face coverings must be worn properly (covering the nose and mouth) by all fans 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.

Removal of Non-Compliant Fans

We will be using a modified Ask-Offer-Leave protocol for fans who do not comply with face covering protocols.

  1. Initial contact with guest will be a verbal reminder that face coverings are required at all times unless actively eating or drinking. At this time, we will offer a face covering should the guest not have one or if theirs broke.
  2. Second contact will be an additional verbal reminder to wear face coverings at all times unless actively eating or drinking, and that if there is a third reminder that at that time the guest will be asked to leave.
  3. Third contact will result in fan being asked to leave. UTSA PD will assist with during this contact.
hospitality areas 

The RAF donor hospitality area will be open for select games and will follow established protocols for food and beverage service. All meals will be prepackaged and all beverages will be bottled/canned. All meals will be picked up in a one-way serving line and taken back to their seats.

marketing & patron education 

“We’re all in this together. Do your part.”

All guests will play an essential role in allowing live events to reopen safely. Because COVID-19 is highly contagious, everyone – patrons as well as staff – must do their part.

The Five Principles — Do it for yourself. Do it for others. Do your part.

  1. Wear Your Mask — Face coverings are required in all public and common spaces.
  2. Keep your Distance — Maintain at least six feet physical distance from others and avoid common areas. Use technology to limit social interaction.
  3. Wash Up — Wash your hands with soap and water regularly.
  4. Check Yourself — Monitor yourself vigilantly to check for common symptoms of COVID-19.
  5. Stay Home — Stay home if you feel sick.

All guests are highly encouraged to conduct daily health checks.

noisemakers 

UTSA Athletics encourages the use of approved noisemakers to help eliminate unnecessary spread through cheering.

parking 

Parking is free in Brackenridge Ave Lots 1, 2 and 3 and also in the Barshop Lot for baseball games. ADA spaces are located in Lot 1.

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.

seating areas 

Per Conference USA policy, UTSA has implemented a reduced seating capacity for all home events. All fan seating areas will be in blocks of two or four seats and physically distanced, and the seat adjacent to each aisle will not be available. In the Convocation Center, no courtside or East side floor-level seats will be available for purchase this season.

signage 

Appropriate signage will be prominently displayed outlining proper face covering usage, social distancing and UTSA’s Five Principles. Additional signage will include QR codes that fans can utilize to access the UTSA Daily Health Assessment website.


TICKETS
The UTSA Ticket Office can be reached at 210-458-UTSA (8872), ticketoffice@utsa.edu or goUTSA.com/tickets.

BASEBALL
Baseball games are not open to the general public. Only player/coach guests may enter the facility if they are on an approved guest list from one of the teams. Visiting teams are limited to 10 guests unless otherwise specified. Limited space is also available for current UTSA students to attend for free. Seating is general admission except the section directly behind home plate and in front of the press box is reserved for player guests. All guests are encouraged to practice social distancing from other groups at all times. Fans are not allowed down the left field line this year at all. Fans may only access the stands behind the infield and the berm down the right field line. Face coverings are required for all guests.

SOCCER
Soccer matches are not open to the general public. Only player/coach guests may enter the facility if they are on an approved guest list from one of the teams. Visiting teams are limited to 25 guests. Limited space is also available for current UTSA students to attend for free. Seating is general admission, but guests are encouraged to practice social distancing from other groups at all times. Face coverings are required for all guests.

SOFTBALL
Softball games are not open to general fans. Only player/coach guests may enter the facility if they are on an approved guest list from one of the teams. Visiting teams are limited to 10 guests in most cases. Seating is general admission, but guests are encouraged to practice social distancing at all times. Students may watch from at least 12 feet beyond the outfield fence – no ticket is required to access this area. Face coverings are required for all guests.

TRACK & FIELD
Until further notice, spectators will not be allowed at 2021 home meets.
 
UTSA is assigning new seat locations for the 2020-21 season only and this process is being done in Loyalty Points order.
 

Convocation Center box office (game Day) 

If you have any ticketing issues on game day, please visit the box office or ticket table, which open one hour prior to the game.

digital ticketing 
  • Fans will be encouraged to take advantage of mobile ticketing for the 2020 season. For more information, please visit the UTSA Account Manager.
  • To expedite entry and ensure the safest possible game day experience, fans should download their tickets prior to arrival and enter through the entrance shown on their ticket.
rest assured options 
  • Please consider donating your payments to the 100% tax-deductible RAF+ (your per-seat requirement and tickets are currently not tax-deductible). While some of our student-athletes may not be competing, they continue to rely on your season ticket purchase and RAF contributions to fund their scholarships at UTSA. Significant losses in this area of support would be detrimental to the program. “Ticket to donation” gifts will be included in the Run as One Campaign and qualify for double Loyalty Points.
  • Alternately, you may choose to transfer your payment to the next football season.
  • You may request to receive a full refund on tickets, per-seat requirement, parking passes and facility fees. Please note, RAF+ gifts are considered philanthropic donations and are not refundable.
utsa students 

Current UTSA students receive complimentary admission to all on-campus UTSA Athletics events. Student seating for basketball and volleyball this season will be located on the East side of the 200 level (sections 205-208) and will be in pods of two (2) or four (4). Students and their guests may sit in any available seats on the East side of the 200 level (seating is general admission in these sections) Limited space is available for current UTSA students to attend home soccer matches for free, and seating is general admission, but guests are encouraged to practice social distancing from other groups at all times. Limited space is available for current UTSA students to attend baseball games for free, and seating is general admission except the section directly behind home plate and in front of the press box is reserved for player guests. Students may watch softball games from at least 12 feet beyond the outfield fence – no ticket is required to access this area..


 

UTSA GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The UTSA Public Health Task Force has developed a list of five guiding principles to help frame all UTSA department return to campus protocols. As a preface to these guidelines, the university and the UTSA Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will have continued review and assessment of the pandemic and its impact on our campus. The pandemic and requirements from local and state authorities change over time. As a result, expect UTSA’s guidance and requirements to evolve and change fluidly. Updates will be posted at utsa.edu/roadmap and operational questions can be directed to recoveryops@utsa.edu.
 
The Five Guiding Principles Developed from the UTSA Public Health Task Force:

  1. We will fulfill the UTSA mission in the face of adverse events associated with COVID-19.
  2. We will engage in an approach of shared responsibility as a campus community, which is necessary to succeed in safely meeting our UTSA mission.
  3. We will conduct all business in a manner that supports the health and safety of everyone in our community, while always being mindful of our institutional mission.
  4. We will follow pertinent guidance from relevant public health and higher education
  5. We will respect and consider the diversity of our campus populations and present inclusive and equitable solutions.