No Fans
Dear xxxxxxxx,
Thank you for supporting the University of Cincinnati football program. You are a valued season-ticket holder and your investment in our program is vital to the Bearcats’ immediate and long-term success. I am pleased to share that, in consultation with University leadership, Bearcats Athletics has developed a plan for a return of Bearcats football this fall.
As we all know, the 2020 football season will not be normal. It will require patience, close monitoring of the Coronavirus and any spread it might have within our local and extended community, an ability to be nimble and adjust as necessary and strict compliance with health and safety protocols. Be assured that Bearcats Athletics is continuously striving to fulfill these requirements, so that a fall football season can occur. Additionally, with an ongoing focus on the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and staff, and with a keen awareness that our path to football will be directed ultimately by this virus, we have taken the following actions:
1. We have moved our game versus Austin Peay to Saturday, September 19. We will not schedule a game before this date and will likely not schedule any other non-conference game.
2. We will start the season without fans in Nippert Stadium. We will permit fans in the stadium later in the season only if we determine it is safe and appropriate to do so. We are not holding to a timeframe on such a determination.
3. There will be no football season tickets. Season ticket holder status and ticket locations will automatically be rolled over to the 2021 season, for all season ticket holders. Season ticket holders who made adjustments to their ticket location for the 2020 season during the annual upgrade period will see those locations carry over to 2021.
4. We will be following strict health and safety protocols for our student-athletes. This will include enhanced testing, daily health and safety checks, and the creation and maintenance of a stringent gameday “bubble.”
I am proud of our department’s response to this virus. Our medical staff, led by Dr. Jon Divine, Bob Mangine and Aaron Himmler has worked tirelessly throughout the Spring and Summer to maintain health and safety for our student-athletes, coaches and staff. Continuously evaluating the most recent data and best practices from around the country, Bearcats Athletics has developed and implemented policies and procedures that allow us to take continued steps toward a fall football season. I am thankful for Coach Fickell and his coaching staff for the care and concern they have for our student-athletes. Most of all, I am proud of our football team. These young men have taken on a unique and unprecedented challenge with focus and determination. They want to play football games this fall, so they have adjusted to this new normal. Our efforts are directed toward making sure their participation is safe and that they feel supported in their pursuit of a successful season.
Be assured that we will continue to monitor the virus and its impact on our campus closely. Football will be played only if we determine it is safe to play. And again, fans will be allowed in the stands at Nippert Stadium only if we determine and trust that in doing so we can maintain the safety of our student athletes, staff, student population on campus and the fans themselves. As I write this letter today, August 24, we have not reached that point. The stadium’s location--in the middle of the campus--makes bringing fans onto the campus risky and problematic at present. We owe it to our campus community to limit that risk by playing football games without fans. We still hope the virus will subside and be even more controlled as the season progresses. If this happens, we will re-evaluate the decision to play without fans in attendance, while working within state and local guidelines.
The irony is not lost on me; that at the same time we are uncomfortable bringing our fans onto the campus, we need their financial support more than ever. Unquestionably, the financial burden on our athletics department stemming from a football season without fans will be great. In order to continue to support the student athletes and maintain success, the department needs continued monetary support. For this reason, we are asking our season-ticket holders to seriously consider donating their usual ticket and priority-seating investments back to the department. For those unable to make this commitment, we ask you to consider donating a portion of your investment. If neither of these options is feasible, please authorize the department to apply your current payment to the 2021 football season; that is, locking in your commitment to the Bearcats for next year. More detail about each of these options is set forth below in what we are calling our Bearcats Ticket Assurance Plan.
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No Fans
