Name: UT-Austin is considering only filling its stadium to 25% capacity when football resumes Sept. 5
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UT-Austin is considering only filling its stadium to 25% capacity when football resumes Sept. 5

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Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day's latest updates.University of Texas at Austin officials are now considering kicking off the football season with a stadium filled to 25% capacity, interim President Jay Hartzell said Wednesday. That compares with previous announcements from athletics officials that the stadium would operate at 50% capacity.Kevin Eltife, the Chairman of the UT System Board of Regents, made the request to lower capacity. Final decisions will be made in the coming weeks, Hartzell said, and will be informed by guidance from UT's Board of Regents and state health officials.Texas athletics director Chris Del Conte had previously sent an email season ticket holders saying the season would move forward as planned, with the first game set for Sept. 5. But neither NCAA nor Big 12 Conference officials have announced firm decisions on how college football will proceed in the fall."I want you to know that as we are working toward hosting football games this season, our number one priority remains the health and safety of our student-athletes, staff and fans," Del Conte wrote in that email.The decision to let fans back in the stadium at all comes on the heels of an shortly after they arrived on campus to begin voluntary summer workouts. The school also reported its first death, a staff member, earlier this month. There have been more than 500 COVID-19 cases at UT-Austin since March, according to theOfficials have pushed forward with kicking off the football season as planned. The annual game between the Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners occurs during the , which organizers canceled this year. Still, Del Conte said earlier this month that the game will be played.Football conferences across the nation have so far offered disparate responses to the pandemic. The Ivy League and several other conferences postponed their seasons tentatively to spring 2021, while the Big 12 and Southeastern Conference are expected to post clearer decisions by the end of the summer.High school athletics also received from the University Interscholastic League, which said smaller schools can begin practicing volleyball and football as early as Aug. 3. Bigger schools will have to wait longer, and face coverings will be mandatory for anyone not participating in a sport, the guidance said.Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly implied that guidelines for high school athletics were released on July 28. The University Interscholastic League issued the guidance on July 21.Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them .Perhaps it goes without saying — but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our : creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Do you value our journalism? Show us with your support.Loading content …Loading content …

Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day's latest updates.University of Texas at Austin officials are now considering kicking off the football season with a stadium filled to 25% capacity, interim President Jay Hartzell said Wednesday. That compares with previous announcements from athletics officials that the stadium would operate at 50% capacity.Kevin Eltife, the Chairman of the UT System Board of Regents, made the request to lower capacity. Final decisions will be made in the coming weeks, Hartzell said, and will be...

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UT-Austin is considering only filling its stadium to 25% capacity when football resumes Sept. 5

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