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Ohio State AD Gene Smith talks attendance outlook at Ohio Stadium this fall
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Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith isn’t just optimistic about the outlook of the upcoming college football season, he’s also still planning to have fans in the stadium this fall. Quite a few fans at Ohio Stadium, in fact.
Smith, who has spoken many times on the movement towards a college football season in 2020, is still hopeful to see somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000 fans attending Buckeye football games this fall. That would be around half-capacity at Ohio Stadium.
“We’re adhering to the guidelines of our state and the CDC,” Smith said, according to Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors. “Now, I’m hopeful, as we get closer to potentially playing this fall, that that six-foot distancing would be reduced to another number that might get us up to maybe 40,000-50,000 fans.”
Gene Smith on fans at Ohio Stadium: “We’re adhering to the guidelines of our state and the CDC. Now I’m hopeful, as we get closer to potentially playing this fall, that that six-foot distancing would be reduced to another number that might get us up to maybe 40,000-50,000 fans.”
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) June 24, 2020
That’s an optimistic outlook for the season and attendance considering the recent concerns that have returned regarding college football. With several schools reporting positive COVID-19 tests in double figures, there’s been a break in the momentum towards the return of sports.
No final decision has been made about the 2020 college football season. However, many are expecting some sort of announcement to come by the end of July. Currently, the first games of the season are scheduled for Aug. 29. B1G teams won’t hit the field until Sept. 3.
Smith has said in the past that he anticipates opening the doors to Ohio Stadium to anywhere between 20,000-50,000 fans. No school, at least at this time, is planning for a full capacity crowd for the 2020 season.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB