On January 28 the Arena-Auditorium opened games to have a limited number of fans.
“The Wyoming Department of Health approved us to have a limited number of fans back in the Arena starting Thursday, January 28,” Tim Harkins, the associate athletic director for media relations, said. “Students this weekend will be their first opportunity to attend games because they were not able to attend the games prior to February 1.”
The new limit is set at 2,000 while the Arena-Auditorium originally had a capacity of 11,445 people.
“I assume because classes hadn’t started is why students were not open to come to games,” Heather Ezell, the associate head coach for women’s basketball, said.
So far the Arena-Auditorium has not reached the maximum of 2,000 people.
“For the Thursday women’s basketball game a total of 695 people attended and for Saturday there were 780 people,” Harkins said.
According to Mark Branch, the head coach of wrestling, many people still do not know that games are open again to the public.
“I think we’re trying to get the word out because I’ve had a lot of people contacting me still asking when events will be open to the audience and others are worried about COVID. It’s definitely impacted attendance,” Branch said.
Ezell said there have been a total of eight games for women’s basketball. The first four games had an audience. Two did not, and the games on January 28 and 30 had a limited audience again.
“Having fans makes the atmosphere so much more exciting so we appreciate the fans who come out during these difficult times and we appreciate the support when we can get it,” Ezell said.
Only 2,000 tickets are sold at most for each game and seats are sold with social distancing in place. The Arena-Auditorium is cleaned between practices as well as games and masks are required.
“We certainly want to keep everyone safe so we sell tickets with social distancing in mind. There’s a group limit but families can still go together. Certain seats are blocked off and masks are required as well,” Harkins said.
“It’s difficult being a fan and being required to wear a mask and to social distance. I went to the women’s basketball last week and everyone is getting used to wearing a mask anyway,” Branch said.
Wrestling has had one dual with the new regulations for fans attending games. The next two wrestling duals will be on Saturday, February 6 against West Virginia University and Arizona State University.
