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 are able to welcome more of you back.”

This announcement from UNC comes one day after Governor Roy Cooper signed NC Executive Order 195, which allows outside stadiums to have 30 percent capacity and indoor arenas with at least 5,000 seats will have 15 percent capacity.

So far this year, attendance at UNC sports has been limited to families of student-athletes and coaches. In the fall, football at Kenan Stadium was the only sport that a limited number of fans were able to attend.

Changes to executive orders from Governor Cooper, however, mean UNC fans will be able to attend men’s basketball, baseball and both men and womne’s lacrosse games taking place in Chapel Hill this weekend.

Fans will be required to sit at least six feet apart and masks will continue to be required at all times when on UNC’s campus.

“Our priorities will continue to be allowing family members of student-athletes and coaches, as well as Carolina students, into our arenas,” wrote Cunningham. “We also have worked to include opportunities for faculty, staff, Rams Club members and sponsors to attend different sporting events when possible.”

For the final two men’s basketball games, against Florida State on Saturday and Duke on March 6, 75 percent of tickets will be reserved for UNC students via the student lottery system. Carolina Athletics says other tickets will be made available to the families of student-athletes and coaches, health care workers from UNC Hospitals and a small number of donors.

No tickets will be available for sale for basketball games.

Single-game tickets will be on sale for baseball, lacrosse and soccer. A limited number of students and fans will be allowed at field hockey, softball, volleyball, gymnastics and tennis matches.

“We hope that as the number of people affected by COVID-19 decreases around our state and country, we will be able to welcome more of you back,” wrote Cunningham. “Our staff continues to do everything we can to make our venues safe and welcoming for our students-athletes, coaches, staff and you.”

 

Photo via ACC Media.

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