What you need to know to attend Southern Miss football games during COVID-19 pandemic
With seating capacity set at 25 percent for Southern Miss football’s season opener against South Alabama on Sept. 3, the USM athletic department released details Tuesday on how it plans to approach games this season during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Season ticket holders will be allowed to attend games this season at 36,000-seat M.M. Roberts Stadium, but they will not be given assigned seats until further notice.
USM will distribute general admission tickets that will allow those season ticket holders to sit in the section they usually sit in, but they will have to follow social distancing guidelines of at least 6 feet between all people who do not share a household.
USM is currently not selling tickets to individual games in Hattiesburg and there are a limited number of season tickets still available.
Season tickets are available for purchase by calling the USM ticket office at 601-266-5418 or 1-800-844-TICK.
Kickoff time for the South Alabama game is still to be determined.
Student attendance
▪ There will be 1,000 general admission tickets available per game for students in the student sectoin.
▪ Social distancing is required.
▪ How to acquire student tickets will be released later.
Attendance plan for USM home games
▪ There will be designated safe zones for season ticket holders who prefer more distance.
▪ Fans will be using only digital tickets through their mobile device.
▪ All tailgating and picnics are prohibited in the vicinity of the campus.
▪ Fans will not be allowed access to the field.
▪ Parking will be limited to those attending games with instructions being delivered along with the digital ticket.
▪ RV parking on campus will be allowed for Eagle Club members who meet the minimum donation requirement and have an RV parking pass.
▪ As much as it is possible, transactions will be contactless or touchless through mobile ticketing, ticket scanning and cashless concession sales.
▪ Hand sanitizing stations will be placed at gate entrances and at multiple locations throughout the concourses.
COVID mask policy
▪ Face coverings will be required for all patrons to enter the stadium. The coverings will have to be worn when moving through the concourse, in elevators, restrooms and concession areas.
▪ Masks are also encouraged when seated in the stadium. Credentialed game day workers and employees will wear coverings at all times.
▪ There are face covering exceptions for children under the age of 6 and for medical or behavioral conditions.
Concessions rules for USM football
▪ Concession stand workers will wear face coverings and gloves.
▪ There will be enhanced cleaning efforts in all concessions areas.
▪ Lines will be reconfigured to allow 6 feet of social distancing.
▪ A limited menu will be offered to increase the speed of service.
▪ Concession stands will accept cashless forms of payment like Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Tap & Pay along with credit and debit card chip/swipe. A limited number of cash transactions will be available.
This story was originally published August 25, 2020 at 10:34 AM.
