Big Ten opens the door for fan attendance at sporting events, including spring football
The Big Ten conference announced Wednesday a change in their attendance policy for paying customers for the rest of the academic year.
The conference will now allow its member institutions, including Michigan and Michigan State, to follow local COVID-19 protocols and guidelines.
The decision was made by the conference's athletic directors and the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors after consulting university medical experts.
In the state of Michigan, outdoor stadiums can host 20% of its capacity. Indoor arenas that seat 10,000 people or fewer may allow up to 375 attendees. Buildings over 10,000 seats can host up to 750 people.
MSU coach Mel Tucker said Tuesday that he plans to host an intrasquad scrimmage, the culmination of the spring practice sessions, on April 24.
Michigan began its spring practices a few weeks ago. There has not been word on whether Jim Harbaugh plans to hold a spring game.
Going back to the delayed and truncated 2020 Big Ten football seasons, the conference allowed for only family and essential personnel to attend. Fans were also not allowed to buy tickets and attend during the basketball season until the Big Ten men's and women's tournaments in Indianapolis.
Fans are currently allowed to attend the NCAA tournament, also in Indianapolis, at a reduced capacity level.
Contact Kirkland Crawford: kcrawford@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @HiKirkHere.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Big Ten opens the door for fan attendance based on local guidelines
