After campaigning to be allowed into Tar Heel football games, parents of UNC players may have now gotten their wish.

A report from Inside Carolina on Friday said parents and family members of the football program received an email from head coach Mack Brown sharing the new attendance policy, a change from around 50 fans being permitted to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The outlet said a UNC spokesperson confirmed the university will provide a minimum of two tickets to each player for their families, with another source saying a total of 350 tickets will be distributed.

This change is a shift from state government guidance, which has previously said sporting events are not exempt from North Carolina’s mass gathering limit.

At the start of the fall sports season, UNC announced it would have no fans at home games through the end of September due to worries about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While Tar Heel football was slated to host Charlotte for a game this Saturday, it has since been canceled due to Charlotte players testing positive for the coronavirus. The next confirmed UNC home game is October 10 against Virginia Tech.

Earlier this month, parents were pushing to be allowed into games, with some emailing Governor Roy Cooper’s office asking for an exception to the state’s mass gathering order limiting large crowds to 50 people. Brown said the program would also lobby the state government for a change to attendance. Inside Carolina reported shortly after that Cooper’s office denied a UNC request for families to attend the season-opener against Syracuse.

Orange County currently has a mass gathering limit of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. Because UNC is a state institution and is governed directly by the North Carolina government, the campus falls under the statewide emergency order.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
As UNC Football Returns, Parents Push to See Their Kids Play
UPDATE: This article has been updated with information regarding the Governor’s Office’s response to UNC’s request to allow parents into football games. Pat Crowley has been the only other football head coach in his son Will’s life beside UNC’s Mack Brown. He didn’t miss any of his son’s games through either middle school […]
Art’s Angle: Looking Ahead
Carolina played a football-basketball doubleheader Saturday that define where each program has to go this year, if not next season. The Tar Heels won the expected game against Wofford (apparently the last small-college team they will play on Senior Day for the foreseeable future), giving quarterback Sam Howell a week to rest his left shoulder […]
UNC Will Welcome Fans Back for Sports. Here's What You Need to Know
UNC will welcome fans back for athletic events beginning on Friday. “We’ve missed having you at our events this season, cheering on our student-athletes and teams and enjoying the camaraderie of being on campus,” wrote UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham on Thursday. “At long last, we’re pleased to tell you that beginning this weekend, we […]
North Carolina Renters, Colleges Grapple with Virus Turmoil
North Carolinians will soon get some much-needed relief to help pay their rent and utility bills through three new programs. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper unveiled a new program Tuesday to give residents $94 million to prevent evictions and reduce electricity costs. An additional $53 million will be available to families that are homeless or face […]
Cooper Signs Bills Granting Universities Immunity Over COVID-19 Tutition Claims, UNC-CH Construction Funding
Governor Roy Cooper has been signing and vetoing bills from the North Carolina General Assembly’s most recent session this week. Two he recently approved protect universities from legal claims over coronavirus-related closures and give additional funding to UNC-Chapel Hill capital development projects. Among the 24 bills ratified by the governor on Wednesday, Senate Bill 208 […]
UNC Football at Clemson (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Kickoff Time
UNC will look to continue its strong start to the 2026 season when it visits Clemson Saturday. The Tar Heels have not won at the Tigers’ Memorial Stadium since 2001 and have lost the last seven meetings regardless of location. If you aren’t making the trip down south with the team, here’s how you can […]
Opportunity Awaits UNC Football at Clemson. Can the Tar Heels Capitalize?
Against a seemingly vulnerable Clemson team Saturday, UNC has a chance to pick up a narrative-shifting win in Death Valley.
100 Years of Kenan Stadium: 'We Owe Them Our Best'
For UNC's Rick Steinbacher, the fan experience is top of mind during each Kenan Stadium gameday in the fall.
UNC Football Players Charged with Carrying Concealed Handgun, Speeding After Traffic Stop
UNC football player Keeyun Chapman was arrested for carrying a concealed handgun and teammate C.J. Sadler was cited for speeding during a traffic stop Tuesday night in Chapel Hill. The police report for Chapman’s arrest notes the traffic stop took place at 1050 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at 9:30 p.m. The charge against him […]
ACC Opponents Announced for UNC Football's 2027 Season
The ACC has announced the nine conference opponents for UNC’s 2027 football season. As part of the league’s scheduling model, 16 of the 17 league members will play nine ACC games, while only Clemson will play eight (the Tigers are scheduled to face Notre Dame in 2027). The structure ensures that every league member will […]
›