USC, UCLA can run stadiums at full capacity for 2021 season
After playing in front of empty stadiums in 2020 in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the USC and UCLA football teams will be back in front of fans this coming fall.
Both athletic programs announced plans on Tuesday to allow full capacity at football games this fall. The announcements came on the day that California fully re-opened the state.
USC will allow full 77,500-person crowds at the Coliseum for seven home games this fall. Fans will also be allowed at other fall sports, including women’s volleyball, women’s soccer and men’s water polo.
The university did not reveal any specific safety guidelines for attendance but said that such decisions will be announced at a later date as USC follows the latest local directives for outdoor and indoor live events.
“Our home games were not the same last year, and the gameday experience at the Coliseum is so special primarily because of the fans,” USC athletic director Mike Bohn said in a statement. “Our players and coaches can’t wait to see fans and family in the stands and that energy is a differencemaker for us on the field.”
UCLA also has seven home football games at the Rose Bowl (with a capacity of 80,000) this fall. The Bruins also announced they will allow full capacity at all outdoor sports this fall, including soccer and men’s water polo.
Like USC, UCLA is waiting to announce specific safety protocols until local guidelines for the fall become clear.
“Getting the COVID-19 vaccination is strongly encouraged to provide the safest environment for everyone,” UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said in a statement. “We will continue to follow local and state health and safety protocols in order to maintain a safe environment for our fans.”