Bjork still wants full Kyle Field
A&M athletic director not ready to embrace Abbott’s reported advice to expect 50% capacity
COLLEGE STATION — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told athletic directors from the state’s largest schools to expect 50 percent capacity at football games this fall, USA Today reported, but Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork is remaining optimistic.
With more than 80 days before Texas A&M’s first scheduled game against Abilene Christian at Kyle Field, Bjork said this is no time for absolutes when determining college attendance in the late summer and fall based on the coronavirus pandemic.
“As of today, we still have time on our side,” Bjork said Saturday. “And we will not make decisions based on incomplete information.”
USA Today reported that Abbott met with the dozen athletic directors from the state’s Football Bowl Subdivision programs via teleconference Friday, and “told them not to expect capacity at their stadiums to be above 50 percent this fall.”
“The governor was very gracious with his time and provided us with insights into the current situation,” Bjork said Saturday. “It’s disappointing that information from the meeting leaked, since the discussion was meant to be confidential, and I will not disclose the details of the conversation and violate Gov. Abbott’s trust.”
Bjork, hired by A&M a year ago from the same position at Mississippi, added: “As we’ve learned throughout this unprecedented situation, everything remains fluid, and there are a number of scenarios for attending upcoming pro and college sporting events.”
Bjork has expressed confidence that Kyle Field might be near its capacity of more than 100,000 at some point this fall. The Aggies are scheduled to host ACU on Sept. 5 in coach Jimbo Fisher’s third season.
“We continue to remain optimistic and will make sure our plans are safe as possible for everyone involved,” Bjork said. “As we get closer to the start of the season plans and decisions will become more clear, and when circumstances allow we will communicate accurate information to our 12th Man Foundation donors, season ticket holders and students.”
A&M football players reported for voluntary workouts Tuesday, and Bjork told the Houston Chronicle that day concerning Kyle Field attendance that he is “optimistic we can get to a point where we can have all kinds of the best (preventive) practices and all kinds of risk mitigation … that we’re going to educate our fans, and we want as many fans in there as possible.
“That’s what we’re planning for.”