COLLEGE STATION, Texas — College football is back, and Texas A&M is ready to hit Kyle Field running with a reduced 25 percent capacity, but increased safety measures.
Walking into Kyle Field, it won’t take long to see COVID-19 is at the front of everyone’s mind. Game attendees will see stickers for social distancing on the floor, on the escalator, in line at the concession stand, and reduced touch points.
That means cashless, plexiglassed registers and fans have to hold and scan their own ticket. Above all, masks will be enforced at all times.
“You got to put your mask on to go to the restrooms, to buy a t-shirt, to do whatever it might be,” said Kevin Hurley, the Senior Associate Athletic Director at Texas A&M.
You can only take your mask off when you’re eating at a stationary place. So maskless people cannot use the excuse of walking around with a water bottle.
If a fan refuses to wear their mask, they will be escorted out.
While all the changes are clearly about fan safety, they are also about the fan experience.
Aggie yells will still happen, but the yell leaders will be in the stands. The Aggie band will also be in the stands. Their performance will be pre-recorded to air at halftime.
“Our first job is to get the first game, have a great game day experience, everybody gets home safe,” Hurley said. "It's still Aggie football. At the end of the day, we’re still playing.”
Officials at Texas A&M feel game days will get better, with less restrictions possibly to come in the future. But for now, they are taking it one game at a time.
The university said their ticket pool for students and regular fans will open up next week. Their first home game at Kyle Field is next Saturday, September 26, 2020.