San Antonio sets up ‘clean zone’ for NCAA Tournament vendors
With the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s 2021 women’s basketball tournament around the corner, the city is ensuring merchandise around the event will be regulated and safety guidelines will still be in place.
The San Antonio City Council approved an ordinance Thursday designating about 1.5 square miles of downtown as a “clean zone” for the tournament, March 16-April 4. Teams are expected to arrive March 16 for practice; the first round of games starts March 21.
This designation will require temporary vendors in the area to obtain a permit from the city before they start selling their wares, including food, drinks, flowers, tickets, merchandise and souvenirs. It’s designed to help control the flow of vendors and reduce the sale of unlicensed merchandise, officials said.
“The clean zone’s primary purpose is to ensure only officially licensed product is sold in close proximity to the venues,” City Attorney Andy Segovia said.
Violators could be fined up to $2,000. The clean zone doesn’t affect existing downtown vendors who already have permits unless they’re selling unlicensed NCAA products.
Despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement earlier this week, face masks will be required. The San Antonio Local Organizing Committee will ensure that the temporary permits will require vendors to follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s safety recommendations, according to Patricia Muzquiz Cantor, director of the Convention and Sports Facilities department.
Muzquiz Cantor told the council that the Alamodome and the Convention Center will both have screenings for guests when they come in, socially distant seating, multiple hand sanitizing stations and signs to remind patrons of safety protocols.
There have been contactless improvements made to the facilities, such as automatic entry doors, ticket scanners, kiosks and touchless faucets and flush valves in the bathrooms. Areas that are touched frequently will be cleaned often.
The NCAA has implemented safety protocols, including requiring athletes and those traveling with them to get tested for the coronavirus before arriving and then daily, Muzquiz Cantor said.
There will be areas in the facilities that prohibit people who have not been tested. Athletes, coaches and staff will wear proximity sensors to warn them when they are within 6 feet of each other, Munquiz Cantor added.
The clean zone includes the event venues, hotels and other high-traffic areas, with St. Mary’s Street and Mccullough Avenue serving as the northern boundary, I-35 North on the west, E. César E. Chávez Boulevard and Leigh Street on the south and North Mesquite Street on the east.
The clean zone was first used in 1998 for the men’s Final Four basketball tournament, and has been enacted for other NCAA events as well as the annual Alamo Bowl and the Big 12 football championship.