For the first time since shutting the state of North Carolina down on March 17, Governor Roy Cooper announced Tuesday afternoon that he will now allow fans to attend outdoor sporting events like college and pro football games.
However, there’s a catch.
First, teams will only be allowed to have 7% capacity, which means just under 5,300 fans can attend Carolina Panthers games at Bank of America Stadium, which holds roughly 75,000.
That number is low compared to other NFL teams that have allowed fans. Usually they’ve been in the 15%-20% range of allowance.
Second, only stadiums that hold at least 10,000 people will be allowed to have fans, which means parents and students at smaller colleges still won’t be able to watch their sons or support their school in person.
Cooper said that he wanted to make sure stadiums were big enough for fans to socially distance.
That means a school like Lenoir-Rhyne, which has a stadium that seats 7,500 won’t be allowed to have 7% capacity for fear that 525 people wouldn’t be able to spread out far enough on both sides of the field.
A spokesperson for the Panthers said they are thrilled about fans coming back, no matter what the number.
“We have worked for months to develop and implement a responsible and comprehensive plan for the return of fans and we are confident that it will ensure that the game day experience is enjoyable and as safe as possible.
“We will continue to follow guidelines provided by the CDC, local and state government, as well as they National Football League, and will be prepared to adjust our policies as necessary.”