ATHENS — The University of Georgia revealed various stadium seating and game-day operations details as part of its “Plans for a Return to Full Operations.”
DawgNation obtained the 225-page report on Wednesday. It was sent out to UGA faculty and staff on Tuesday afternoon.
UGA President Jere Morehead assembled nine working groups in the midst of COVID-19 fallout earlier this spring to determine how best to resume operations.
Morehead said last Friday (June 4) that SEC commissioner Greg Sankey advised league presidents not to get too far ahead of themselves with limiting fans or deciding on social distancing.
“Personally, I’m hoping that we don’t have to put any restrictions on at Sanford Stadium, but I have no idea what the public health experts are going to be telling us at that point and if they say we have to have social distancing or you have to wear masks then we’ll approach things as we’re advised to do,” Morehead said.
“I expect it by the SEC on behalf of all of the schools coming up with comprehensive guidelines as they’ve done so far for our reopening efforts.”
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UGA athletic director Greg McGarity indicated the different plans outlined remain fluid.
Football players returned to campus and opened voluntary workouts on June 8 as part of Phase I. Basketball and other sports will return in Phase ll, the start date of which has yet to be released.
“Athletics is preparing for various scenarios for hosting fall sports, including hosting events without fans in attendance, limited attendance, and venues being at full capacity – safely and with mitigation measures,” the report states.
“In all situations, the planning will align with USG, institutional, CDC, federal, and state guidelines.”
The outlines cover guidelines for three scenarios:
• OPTION ONE: No fans in attendance
— only essential staffing; game officials, management
• OPTION TWO: Limited attendance
— mandatory social distancing six-foot
— decals at entrances, restrooms concessions to ensure six-foot distancing
— cashless operations at parking, ticketing and concession stands
— concessions stand workers in gloves and masks
— seating would be in groups of 2, 4, 5 and 6.
• OPTION THREE: Full attendance
— relaxed social distancing
— cashless operations at parking, ticketing and concession stands
McGarity told DawgNation on Wednesday that the current projected seating groups of 2, 4, 5 and 6 remain in the “broad concept” stage.
There are plans for fans to be able to scan their own tickets in the limited seating scenario to avoid interaction with ticket taker.
Because chair backs would be used to design layout of available seating, there would be no chair back sales in the limited seating plan.
Further, there would be recommendations for one-way aisles and one-way concourse flow to minimize cross traffic.
The report also indicated UGA is planning to eliminate misting tents, water refill stations and condiment stations.
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