Baker order may allow more fans at games
Gov. increases number of spectators allowed
The governor’s easing of coronavirus rules could put more fans in stands.
Perhaps Governor Charlie Baker was listening into the MIAA Board of Directors meeting after all.
Less than an hour after the Board voted by a 10-8 margin yesterday morning to ask the governor’s council to consider increasing the amount of spectators from 50 to allow more parents and fans to attend high school games, Baker announced that he was increasing the outdoor gathering size to 100 for those communities not in the red (those in the red must remain at 50) and also allowed for 50 percent capacity for indoor/outdoor performances.
One of the leaders behind this proposal was Duxbury athletic director Thom Holdgate. He maintained that his venues were more than capable of safely holding well over 50 people and provide adequate social distancing without a problem.
“I think we could easily hold 400 at our place and do it safely,” Holdgate said. “My concern is if we are limiting fans, it’s going to put a burden on the athletic staffs. I’m not looking forward to playing COVID police, so anything to help us would be wonderful.”
Several of the committee member would voted against this proposal expressed concerns that not all schools have the same size and capability for distancing, thus creating additional problems.
In other items on the agenda, MIAA associate executive director Richard Pearson was able to convince the Board that vacancies on sport committees should not affect quorums. Gymnastics and rugby are two sports in
which there are several vacancies at the present times.
With the winter season around the corner and plenty of uncertainty surrounding that, the committee broached the subject. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) is requiring four weeks of data from the fall seasons for recommendations, which means the Board will likely have to schedule an extra meeting beyond the regularly scheduled October 29 session.
Endowment games were unanimously suspended for 2020-2021 season. These contests have been used to schools to schedule an extra game without affecting their overall record. Another purpose was to generate revenue for their school while simultaneously becoming active participants in growing the MIAA Endowment Fund.