Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

UW pleased to see Brewers moving toward full capacity

- Jeff Potrykus

MADISON – Officials in the University of Wisconsin athletic department were beaming Thursday.

Why?

The Milwaukee Brewers had just announced they would end all restrictio­ns on the number of fans allowed inside American Family Field, beginning June 25.

That announceme­nt came just two days after the team said it would increase maximum attendance to 50% from 25%.

“(Thursday) was a big day, man,” UW deputy athletic director Chris McIntosh said. “Between the Brewers news and the CDC. That was huge.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday eased restrictio­ns on masks for fully vaccinated people. The CDC now recommends individual­s fully vaccinated no longer need to wear masks outdoors in crowds and can stop wearing masks at most indoor places.

UW officials announced in February they were planning to allow full capacity at football games at Camp Randall Stadium in 2021. The Badgers are scheduled to play seven home games, beginning Sept. 4 against Penn State.

UW did not allow fans inside Camp Randall Stadium last season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

McIntosh was also encouraged by the latest numbers released Thursday by Public Health Madison & Dane County: The average number of COVID-19 cases per day was 43, the lowest mark since August.

“I don’t know that much has changed with our inability to predict where the world is going to be in September,” McIntosh said. “But we’ve been hard at work developing our plan for Camp Randall, as well as our other venues. A full stadium is our goal.

“And if we’re allowed to do that, we will be prepared to do that.”

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