MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — No fans will be allowed to attend basketball games at the WVU Coliseum in the month of December.
Previously, it was announced that the Coliseum would welcome 20% capacity. The university says that due to recent spikes of positive cases and for overall safety precautions from the COVID-19 pandemic for indoor events, only essential game operations personnel and families of the players and basketball staffs will be admitted in December. Expected capacity at home games in January and February will be announced in the future and determined by local public health conditions at the time.
“To say that we are disappointed is quite an understatement, but the decision not to allow spectators in December is the correct one at this time for the safety of our fans, staff and student-athletes,” Director of Athletics Shane Lyons said. “The COVID-19 pandemic keeps presenting many challenges, but like I have said in the past, we need to continue being aggressive in taking appropriate safety precautions of wearing masks and getting tested so that we can end this pandemic.
“We have two exciting basketball teams and rest assured that our goal is to have fans in the Coliseum to watch our men’s and women’s teams play. Difficult decisions like this one have to be made for the safety of all involved, and I can’t wait for the day when we can welcome fans back to the Coliseum to see all the great upgrades that were made over the summer to the building for its 50th anniversary.”
All WVU men’s and women’s home games in the month of December will be televised by an ESPN network or ESPN+.
The No. 11 WVU men’s team (3-0) is scheduled to host Robert Morris on December 9 and then No. 19 Richmond on December 13. However, Richmond suspended all team activities Tuesday due to COVID testing results and contact tracing. The men’s team is also scheduled to host Iowa State on December 18 and Buffalo on December 29.
The WVU women’s basketball team (2-0) is scheduled to open their home schedule Thursday against North Alabama.
The WVU football team played their first two home games in front of families of players and staff members only before allowing 25% capacity since October.