Sports venues can open to 50% capacity. What does that mean for Texas teams, events?
Texas college sports programs appear to a major beneficiary from Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision Wednesday to expand capacity for sports venues, including indoor arenas, to 50 percent capacity.
The mandate, part of the third phase of the governor’s task force’s plan to reopen the state, also applies to professional sports leagues, whose seasons are either on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic or are in the offseason.
Sports leagues must first approve a safety plan to the state for approval to hold events, and players and fans must follow state guidelines.
While this would appear to give the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros an avenue to allowing fans should there be a 2020 MLB season, the league and players association do not plan to initially allow fans to their games.
The Dallas Stars will also resume their season without fans, according to the NHL’s return-to-play plan, and the Dallas Mavericks will be among the NBA teams that resume their season in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., without fans.
Texas Motor Speedway hosts its first event of the year Saturday night, when the Indy Racing League opens its season with the Genesys 300. However, the event will be held without fans, as scheduled.
The same goes for the Charles Schwab Challenge on June 11-14, the PGA Tour’s first event since delaying its season in March, at Colonial Country Club.
College programs, though, seem inclined to allow fans to attend games and have time to consider how to safely put them in the stands. By the time fall seasons begin, it’s possible more fans would be allowed. It’s also possible that a second wave for COVID-19 jeopardizes fans attending games at all.
TCU’s first home football game is scheduled for Sept. 12 against Prairie View A&M, and the Horned Frogs would play at SMU in Dallas two weeks later. Nine of the Frogs’ 12 games are scheduled to be played in Texas.
