Dallas Cowboys say fans will be in pods for games at AT&T Stadium, masks required
One day after Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he planned on having fans at every game at AT&T Stadium, the team revealed its “Safe Stadium Policy” and COVID-19 protocols for the 2020 season, which will include cashless transactions, fans socially distancing in pods and requirements that most fans wear mask while inside the stadium
Jones said he didn’t know how many spectators will be allowed to witness games inside the stadium, but the team will follow the state of Texas guidelines, which currently stands at 50 percent of capacity. AT&T Stadium has 80,000 seats, but routinely admits considerably more fans than that.
Jones said the three million square foot arena, which can accommodate over 100,000 fans, has plenty of space for fans to social distance, while grouping in pods.
“The Dallas Cowboys plan on playing all our football games, and we plan on playing them in front of our fans,” he said at a press conference Wednesday that marked the opening of training camp. “When you look at a number in the stadium, don’t think that numbers [are] getting together out there. They’re not. It’ll be in pods of possibly five, 10, 15 different people. Our stadium is well-suited to put together numbers of people that have elected to come and want to watch the Dallas Cowboys play.”
The Cowboys’ endeavor is seemingly more aggressive than what other teams around the NFL are doing. The New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Football Team have already announced that they will have no fans at games this season due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The New Orleans Saints have said they will have no fans at their home opener. The Green Bay Packers will have no fans for the first two games.
Other teams have announced severely reduced capacity, including the Houston Texans who have said social distancing guidelines means the capacity of more than 72,000 at NRG Stadium will be reduced to approximately 14,000 seats, or about 20 percent.
The Cowboys announced several new measures meant to address concerns meant to allay concerns about how the team could host tens of thousands of fans while having it also be a safe experience for fans. Some elements of the plan include:
▪ The Cowboys also plan to open the venue’s retractable roof, weather permitting, to maximize fresh air flow throughout the arena. The building is capable of circulating 840,000 cubic feet of air per minute through its mechanical system.
▪ Fans will be required to wear a mask at all times, except when eating or drinking. Fans under the age of 10 will not be required to wear a mask.
▪ Tickets will be distributed in seat blocks known as “pods” to maintain distance between groups who are not known to one another. Fans are required to maintain pod integrity by only transferring tickets to family or friends within their trusted group. Each ticket holder should have their own mobile ticket on their device.
▪ All tickets at AT&T Stadium will be digital and available through fans’ mobile devices. Tickets purchased from the Dallas Cowboys will be available via the Dallas Cowboys or SeatGeek mobile app.
▪ All food, beverage, parking and retail will be a cashless experience. Major credit and debit cards, as well as mobile pay will be accepted throughout AT&T Stadium.
▪ Designated spaces for tailgating will be available in select AT&T Stadium lots. To promote physical distancing, at least one vacant parking space between vehicles will be required in the tailgating zones and parties will not be permitted to co-mingle.
Additional details about the plan can be found at www.dallascowboys.com/safestadium.
“We are deeply grateful for the patience, understanding, and support our fans have shown during these historic and turbulent times as we continue to prepare for a successful season,” Charlotte Jones, the Cowboys chief brand officer, said in a statement that was released Thursday. “We will continue to work closely with local public safety and public health professionals, the CDC and the NFL to ensure that our unrivaled fan experience at AT&T Stadium is the safest and best it can possibly be.”
