(Citynet Statewide Sportsline interview with WVU Director of Athletics Shane Lyons)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Only essential game operations personnel and families of the players and football staff will be admitted for WVU season opener vs. EKU on September 12.
Please read this update regarding fan attendance for the 2020 home games.
— WVU Football (@WVUfootball) August 20, 2020
“We had to finally make a decision,” WVU Director of Athletics Shane Lyons said. “Our drop dead date was (Wednesday) to make a decision. We were prepared to move forward. But ultimately it was decided to not have fans on this Eastern Kentucky game.”
Anticipated attendance capacity, if any, for Big 12 Conference home games, starting on October 3 vs. Baylor will be announced later.
“We are disappointed that we will not be able to allow fans to attend the Sept. 12 home game, but we are working diligently to open our gates for Big 12 Conference play,” Lyons said. “It is our goal to have fans at Milan Puskar Stadium this season, but right now, that is not possible for the EKU game.
“Our primary collective University focus right now is on the start of classes and the safe return of our students to our WVU Campuses. I am hopeful that all of us will be aggressive in taking appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of this virus so that all parties can be comfortable allowing a percentage of fans to attend on Oct. 3 and beyond. Until then, I ask for your understanding of the decisions that are being made and trust that we are doing everything we can to welcome Mountaineer Nation back to one of the best atmospheres in college football.”
Broadcast and kickoff time for the Eastern Kentucky game will be announced at a later date. The timeline for an anticipated attendance decision at the Baylor game will be around mid-September.
“I think we can learn a lot here in the coming weeks with other institutions starting at smaller capacities with what is happening there. What things can we do better from our protocols?”
Most Big 12 schools have announced limited capacity for all home games.
“If you go back on our conversations with the other athletic directors, several weeks ago in mid-July, most everybody was thinking fifty percent. Now it has dropped to twenty-five percent.”