MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — According to health, safety and wellness measures being implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, the WVU Coliseum will open its doors to an approximate 3,000 fans for every men’s and women’s home game this season.
The figure is expected to be 20% capacity for the Coliseum, which seats 14,000.
The WVU men’s team will open the Coliseum against Youngstown State on Dec. 2, while the women’s team will host North Alabama a day later.
“COVID-19 continues to present all of us with many challenges, and I am thankful for the cooperation of all parties involved in order to get the basketball season underway,” WVU athletic director Shane Lyons said in a press release. “While we hoped to be able to welcome fans back at the 25% of capacity level this season, we had to take into account the Big 12, local and state safety measures that we are following, along with safety zones around the court.
“Once these factors were considered, 20% capacity is the maximum number we can accommodate as we continue our focus on the health and safety of our student-athletes, university and community.”
According to the press release, priority admittance into men’s games will go to 2020-21 Mountaineer Athletic Club (MAC) members, 2019-20 men’s basketball season ticket holders and WVU students and players’ families.
A limited number of tickets will go to the visiting team.
No season tickets will be sold for the 2020-21 season.
As for the breakdown, Matt Wells, WVU Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Affairs, told The Dominion Post the general expectation would be to have approximately 1,000 fans in the lower level of the Coliseum and nearly 2,000 in the upper levels.
The lower-level tickets would be reserved for MAC members in The Summit, Stadium Suite and Mountaineer Scholar levels.
Those individuals will be contacted by the school with information on purchasing available lower-level tickets for the home games in December.
Beginning Nov. 10, fans who were MAC members and men’s basketball season ticket holders in 2019-20 will receive information on how to purchase tickets in the upper levels for the December home games.
All ticket purchases will be limited to four tickets per game per account.
To maximize the number of fans who can be accommodated, seating will be allocated in socially distanced seat blocks of two or four tickets.
Face coverings will be required of all fans entering the arena and should be worn at all times, except when eating or drinking.
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