COLUMBUS – When Ohio State athletics officials say they want to treat every game during the 2020 football season as a “home” game, they mean your home.
No. 5 OHIO STATE vs. Nebraska; Ohio Stadium, Columbus Ohio; Oct. 24 (Noon/FOX)
“Every game is a home game” is the motto adopted for the season, which was delayed due to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus and university officials are encouraging fans to “homegate” safely and responsibly, continue to wear masks, practice physical distancing and maintain good hand-hygiene.
“COVID-19 cases are rising, including in Ohio, and we can’t have our games become virus-spreading events. So we’re sincerely asking our fans to avoid large watch parties, don’t come onto campus because there’s no tailgating anyway, and enjoy watching the Buckeyes with family or limited numbers of friends,” athletics director Gene Smith said.
Players’ and coaches’ families will be allowed to attend games but the Big Ten has banned fans from the stadiums.
Ohio State will have up to 656 player and coaching family guests at games at Ohio Stadium this year and visiting teams will have up to 400. The spectators will be physically distanced across 10 “A Deck” seating sections and masks or face coverings will be required inside the stadium.
The capacity of Ohio Stadium during the 2020 season will be right at 1,600, enough to allow for everyone in the facility, including public safety personnel, staff, concessions workers, Red Coats, spectators, teams, officials, game management personnel and TV network employees.
Fans can purchase life-size photo cutouts of themselves that will populate sections of “A Deck” all season.
Other changes to game days in 2020:
-Tailgating will not be allowed in parking lots or anywhere on campus.
-The Big Ten has provided each school with crowd noise “murmur” audio tracks for use during the games. The volume can be increased during celebration moments for the home team.
-The Ohio State Marching Band will not perform or conduct its traditional “skull session” at St. John Arena before games.
-There will be no cheerleaders or Brutus Buckeye.
-Fans can watch newly recorded pregame and halftime performances on the Scarlet Saturday live-stream feed featuring moments from inside the stadium.
There will be no Homecoming, alumni band or alumni cheerleader festivities and past Big Ten championship teams and individual honorees will not be celebrated.
Not every tradition will fall victim to the virus. The players and coaches will sing Carmen Ohio after games and the Victory Bell will still ring out after every win.