CUTTING CROWD CAPACITY Athletics adapts to ensure safety during pandemic Grace Jennings | Staff Reporter
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Photo by Meghan Williamson
ince early March, the CDC has required that events follow certain regulations due to COVID-19. Because of this, Bishop Kenny’s administration has had to make changes. Some of these changes include wearing masks, limited lunch seating with more outdoor tables and classroom shields for teachers. In addition to this, CDC guidelines limit event capacities to keep students safe, including sports. Capacity for sporting events is capped at 20% of its normal limit, according to Athletics Director Mark Thorson. For games held both in the gym and on the field only this percentage of people are allowed to attend. “We are prioritizing the parents and the families of our players, cheerleaders and drum line, so they have an opportunity to get a restricted number of tickets for each event,” Thorson explained. Due to this prioritization,
there are fewer tickets open for students and community members to attend games. Tickets for games are also now sold digitally through Ticket Spicket, rather than at Crusader Corner or the front gates. After the families of both competing teams have reserved their seats, the rest are open to the general public. Face masks are another precaution BK is using to follow CDC guidelines. Games in the gym require masks at all times. Outdoor games in the football stadium attendees are required to wear a mask as they enter and leave, walk about the stadium, and to concession stands and restrooms. Once guests are seated they can remove their masks if they are maintaining appropriate social distancing. An additional precaution in place is six-foot markings on the bleachers both in the gym and on the field to assist guests in keeping a safe distance from one another.
“WE ARE PRIORITIZING THE PARENTS AND THE FAMILIES OF OUR PLAYERS, CHEEDERLEADS AND DRUMLINE, SO THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A RESTRICTED NUMBER OF TICKETS,” ATHLETICS DIRECTOR MARK THORSON
“That is what allowed us to keep that social distancing,” Thorson said. “We counted the numbers of the spaces in between and it came to 20%.” Additionally, concession stands will only offer prepackaged foods, which means no more hamburgers, hot
With limited seating, patrons are permitted to remove their mask when they sit down.
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dogs or popcorn. The only items available for purchase must come already wrapped to reduce the chances of contamination. “We are waiting for continued guidance from state and local officials to expand our attendance and do some different things,” Thorson said. “Then we will have a discussion with the administration here at school, but until we get some guidance this is where we are at right now.” Those wishing to attend a game on campus can find information at bishopkenny. org/athletics for schedules and ticketing. Games can also be viewed in livestreams done by Crusader Vision on the Bishop Kenny website. “Our whole goal is to try to keep everyone healthy and to allow these kids to have as much of a normal season as we can,” Thorson said.
