Pollard announces plan for 25,000 fans at season opener

At least as of Aug. 31, Iowa State plans to still have fans in the stands for the football season opener.

That fact was reiterated on Monday in another letter to fans from Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard when he approximately 25,000 spectators will be allowed into Jack Trice Stadium for the Sept. 12 contest with Louisiana.

Whether or not fans will be allowed into the stadium for any of the remaining games on the schedule, including the team’s home conference opener against Oklahoma on Oct. 5, will be predicated upon how well the mitigation processes are followed and how successful they are during the first game.

“If our mitigation actions are successful, we will allow all season ticket purchasers to attend the Oklahoma game Oct. 3. However, if we determine that mitigation measures were not followed adequately at the first game, we will have no fans at future games (beginning with Oklahoma),” Pollard wrote. “An important factor in the decision to allow fans is our belief that Cyclone fans are willing to adhere to our mitigation measures. The purpose of this letter is to ask for your support in helping create a safe environment while also providing our team an impactful home-field advantage. This is an incredible opportunity for Iowa State University to showcase its ability to successfully navigate the challenges associated with large outdoor events during a pandemic.”

Pollard, who is scheduled to meet with the media Monday afternoon, goes on to list the mitigation efforts required to attend the game, including a prior health check (not coming to the game if you’re sick or have symptoms of COVID-19), adjusted parking protocols, no tailgating, mandatory face coverings, revised stadium entry policies, adjusted seating, limiting the flow of fans during game time and changes to the departing the stadium process.

You can learn more about these efforts at this link.

This announcement came the same morning the New York Times listed Ames with the highest percentage of positive tests for COVID-19 per capita in the entire country. Iowa City is currently listed with the second highest-percentage.

“Lastly, this information is subject to revision,” Pollard wrote. “We will continue to monitor the situation closely the next two weeks and will take appropriate actions, including no fans for the first game, if circumstances warrant changes.”

You can read Jamie Pollard’s letter in its entirety right here.