COLUMBUS — Optimism for fans attending Ohio State football games is growing.
Athletic director Gene Smith told reporters Wednesday on a conference call that social distancing models with fans could allow for crowds of less than 30,000 people, most likely in the range of 20,000 to 22,000.
“Could we implement the current CDC guidelines [and] state guidelines on physical distancing, mask requirements, and all those types of things in an outdoor environment and have, obviously, significantly less fans than what we're used to? I think it’s possible,” Smith said during a 38-minute discussion. “I just feel like we have the talent, skill, and space capacity to provide an opportunity for a certain number of fans to have access to our stadium.”
Smith later tweeted, “The number of fans we could host in Ohio Stadium this fall under physical distance guidelines could be as low as 22k, but also may be as many as 40-50k if guidelines are relaxed.”
Family members and guests of coaches and players, as well as donors based on a point system tied to donations would have preference on tickets, according to Smith, followed by students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
In March, Smith was hesitant to even discuss the possibility of empty stadiums. He still struggles with the concept — Why is it safe for players but not fans? — though Smith admitted it’s an idea that’s growing on him.
“I can get there if that is ultimately what we decide,” he said.
As the state of Ohio slowly reopens, the same is occurring on the campus of Ohio State. The Woody Hayes Athletic Center opened Monday to a limited number of staff. In all, 25 staff members have access to the facility, though it’s under extreme measures. Their entry is staggered, and they can only occupy offices for three days per week at a maximum of three hours per day.
The NCAA Division I Council voted Wednesday to approve voluntary athletic activities in football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball beginning June 1.
Ohio State’s athletes can begin returning June 8. They will not be administered coronavirus tests, but temperatures will be taken, and they’ll be given symptom assessments. Depending on the results, out-of-state players could be asked to self-isolate for a period of several days.
Ten players will be permitted to work out at one time, with the occupied area undergoing a thorough cleaning after the players leave. Then the second group of players would enter. Only 50 players would work out per day.
“We feel that the facilities that we have with the protocols that we can put in place — symptom checks, cleanliness, and all of those types of things — is the best-protected environment,” Smith said. “Some of our young people are not in environments where they have access [to gyms]. We want to provide them the opportunity to have access to state-of-the-art equipment and also our medical people, our trainers. We want to continue to make sure they are in the safest environment. That's what we feel we can provide.”
Toledo football players will return to the Larimer Athletic Complex June 8. A date has not been decided for Bowling Green and Michigan.
Ohio State is expected to announce plans for its fall semester by mid-June, which could be a significant deciding factor in whether or not football season is played.
With a quasi-deadline looming, Smith, in a moment of introspection, isn’t so sure football and 2020 are compatible.
“I’m not 100 percent comfortable,” he said. “I am hopeful. I am cautiously optimistic that I'm going to reach 100 percent comfort level. But I'm not there yet.”
First Published May 20, 2020, 9:51 p.m.
