UCF cleared to fill 25% of Bounce House
UCF will be able to welcome about 25% of the stadium’s capacity for the Knights’ season opener at the Bounce House due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The Knights are scheduled to face off against Tulsa on Oct. 3 in front of a crowd of no more than 11,000 fans.
“We continue to work with state, local and University health officials on safety measures for our home football games. We’re currently approved for 25% occupancy in the Bounce House for the first home game on Oct. 3, though we hope we can host more at some point during the season,” UCF athletics director Danny White wrote in a letter to season-ticket holders.
The reduction in the number of fans able to attend games will cause severe economic repercussions for the athletic department, with the Knights losing in the range of $12-$16 million, according to White.
“This reduction will significantly impact our revenues this year,” White said. “We will also incur additional expenses as we implement those safety measures to welcome Knight Nation back to our facilities for what promises to be a very exciting 2020 football season.”
Due to the reduced capacity to start the season, UCF will sell tickets on a single-game basis. Season-ticket holders will have several options according to White, who said the school will provide ticket information for the 2020 football season on Tuesday.
The Knights averaged 43,788 fans during its six home games last season, according to NCAA.com, which was about 99% of the stadium’s occupancy.
The athletic department has been working on several options to help make up for the lost revenue, including its Keep Charging On fundraising campaign — which has already raised more than $900,000 — as well as eliminating about $1.6 million in controllable expenses within the administrative and sports budgets. The department has initiated a hiring freeze while also delaying construction projects.
Florida State and Miami are also limiting fan presence at their home games, with FSU capping capacity at 20-25% and the Hurricanes allowing a maximum of 13,000 fans to its home opener against UAB on Sept. 10.
UCF opens the 2020 season on the road against Georgia Tech on Saturday, Sept. 19.