What Clemson game days will look like at Death Valley this fall due to COVID-19
Clemson fans coming to Saturday’s home football opener against The Citadel will have a unique list of guidelines and rules to follow. That list starts before people leave their house and continues during their time in and around Death Valley.
Clemson will have approximately 19,000 socially-distanced fans on hand for the one non-conference game of its 11-game regular season schedule. Kickoff is 4 p.m. on the ACC Network.
ACC teams in the state of North Carolina are not allowing fans at this time, but Clemson is — at least for the start of the season.
“This is Game 1. We all realize that all of this could change at any moment based on anything,” Clemson associate athletic director for strategic communications Jeff Kallin said. “So in order to have Games 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, we do need people to make sure that they’re following the policy. We do need people to make sure that they’re following the rules.”
The most important guideline Clemson officials are urging fans to follow is one that will take place at home: If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or aren’t feeling well, don’t come to the game.
Here is a breakdown of everything else you need to know about how game days will look this fall:
Clemson parking, tailgating, tickets in 2020
Clemson mailed parking passes to season ticket holders like normal this season, but all tickets will be mobile. Every season ticket holder who opted in for 2020 received at least two season tickets. Clemson placed seats with backs on them around Memorial Stadium to identify where fans must sit in order to maintain social distancing. Fans are allowed to sit beside people in their parties, and 95 percent of the groups of seats are groups of two. Four percent of seats will be groups of four, while 1 percent will consist of groups of six.
Parking will happen with social distancing in mind, with every other parking spot being used.
Tailgating is prohibited in 2020, but fans can have a drink and some food with the people they are going to the game with. However, tents and large groups will not be allowed.
Parking lots will open three hours prior to kickoff, and fans will have an assigned gate and a 30-minute window to enter the stadium. Metal detectors will be used this year, as they were in 2019, and Clemson’s clear-bag policy is still in place.
Clemson football rules while at Memorial Stadium
Fans will be greeted immediately with hand sanitizer stations when they enter the stadium.
Bathrooms will have capacity limits, and every other stall, urinal and sink will be available.
Food will be prepackaged to avoid contact with workers who would have had to prepare it. Hand rails, bathrooms, doors, counters and sanitizer stations will all be cleaned regularly throughout the day.
Masks must be worn at all times in the stadium unless eating or drinking, even while at your seat, and social distancing should be followed while in line for bathrooms or concessions.
Fans are also encouraged not to high-five or hug anyone who is not in their party. What happens if guidelines are not followed?
“They’re a stadium rule. We treat them similarly to any stadium rule. We’re going to be really courteous and we’re going to ask people to please follow the rules and we’re going to say, ‘Hey, this is the expectation of being in the stadium. We see it as a privilege to be able to be here,’” Kallin said.
“If somebody were acting in a way that wasn’t in alignment with stadium rules, like any stadium rule, we would ask them to please correct their behavior. If it were to elevate to the point where it became a problem, there is a possibility that somebody could be asked to leave.”
Clemson traditions yes or no?
The pregame Tiger Walk will not happen this year, and Gathering at the Paw after games will not take place either.
Clemson’s most notable tradition — running down the hill before games — will continue. And players will still ride buses around the stadium in pregame before running down the hill.
While Clemson’s hill tradition will happen as normal, the band will be on the hill and not on the field. The schools wants as few people as possible to have access to the field. The band will stay on the hill throughout the game, while maintaining social distancing.
What about Clemson students?
Of the 19,000 fans who will be on hand, 2,300 to 2,400 will be students. That is a little more than 12 percent of the crowd, which is about the same percentage Clemson typically has on game days.
The students will be in the south upper deck portion of Death Valley, away from other fans.
Clemson used a lottery system to determine which student received student tickets, and students must have a negative COVID-19 test before they are allowed to enter the stadium.
On the field
Clemson will have social just phrases stating “unity” and “equality” painted on the field, and the Tigers are also wearing helmet stickers with social justice messages on them this year.
As for the game, Clemson is a 48.5-point favorite and should have no problem with the Bulldogs. Expect to see plenty of backup quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and Clemson’s talented freshman class.
This story was originally published September 17, 2020 at 2:29 PM.
