GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The University of Florida announced it will fill up to 20 percent of the stadium during Gators football games this season in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
"To comply with physical distancing requirements, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will host approximately 20 percent of its listed capacity of 88,548 in the bowl and club levels, putting the capacity right at 17,000," the school announced in a release.
All fans are also required to wear face coverings at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, known by many in college football as "The Swamp."
In addition, the school is eliminating the following traditions for the 2020 season:
- Tailgating on campus
- Gator Walk
- Gator Walk Village
- Gators Fan Fest
- No Spirit Teams on the sidelines
UF specified that the above changes only apply to the 2020 season.
Here in the Tampa Bay area, the Rays are not allowing fans at Tropicana Field and the Buccaneers are playing without fans in the stand for the first two home games in the 2020 season. USF is also not playing in front of fans during the Bulls' home opener against the Citadel.
UF released the following document outlining how it plans to encourage fans to social distance during football games:
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