No Fans At BYU Football’s First Two Home Games After Move Back To ‘Orange’
Sep 22, 2020, 1:14 PM | Updated: 1:35 pm
LaVell Edwards Stadium (Photo courtesy of Ravell Call, Deseret News)
(Photo courtesy of Ravell Call, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – For the second time in as many games, BYU football will play in front of an empty stadium when they take the field against Troy this Saturday.
Utah Governor Gary Herbert announced on Tuesday a public health order for Provo and Orem back to “Orange/Moderate” level amidst the novel COVID-19 pandemic.
Breaking: #BYU home football games against Troy and Louisiana Tech will be played with no fans at LaVell Edwards Stadium.#BYUFOOTBALL @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2020
Herbert’s mandate allowed for an exception according to the Utah Department of Health that sporting events in Provo and Orem could be played but they would have to do so without any fans in the stands. BYU announced shortly after Herbert’s mandate that they would be playing their first two home games against Troy and Louisiana Tech with zero fans.
This week’s game against Troy was originally going to have 6,000 fans in the 63,745-seat venue in Provo.
BYU Football home games will have no fans against Troy and La Tech
BYU athletics wrote in a press release, “In accordance with the state of Utah’s announcement today moving Provo from low (yellow) to a moderate (orange) risk COVID-19 designation, the BYU-Troy football game on Saturday, Sept. 26, will be played without fans at LaVell Edwards Stadium.”
EXCEPTION: Team sports will be allowed to continue in Orem and Provo but with NO spectators, per @UtahDepOfHealth. #utah #covid19 #breakingnews
— Shara Park (@KSLSharaPark) September 22, 2020
Fans that purchased tickets to the Troy game who are interested in receiving a refund can email the BYU Ticket Office at BYUtickets@byu.edu.
BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe shared his thoughts on Twitter, “Cougs, Difficult news to have to close LaVell’s House to spectators for Troy and La. Tech. Like all the other challenges we have faced together this year, we will move forward strategically and make the most of the tough situation. Hang in there!”
Cougs, Difficult news to have to close LaVell’s House to spectators for Troy and La. Tech. Like all the other challenges we have faced together this year, we will move forward strategically and make the most of the tough situation. Hang in there!
— Tom Holmoe (@TomHolmoe) September 22, 2020
The mandate comes at a time where the state of Utah has seen a spike in cases with COVID-19. From September 16th to 19th, the state recorded more than 900-plus cases daily in that stretch.
BYU has six home games during the 2020 home football season. Earlier this month, the school announced a plan that they had worked on with the Utah Department of Health that could potentially allow up to 24,000 fans at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm, KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
