NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt University will limit attendance for the final two home football games of the season to only parents and families of student-athletes, and a specified number of graduate and professional students, vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletic director Candice Lee announced today. Fans and other Vanderbilt students will not be allowed to attend the games.
Vanderbilt will also begin its basketball season without spectators in attendance until further notice.
The decision to continue limiting attendance at athletic events was based on the advice and guidance of Vanderbilt’s public health partners, including the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and local public health officials. Graduate and professional students will have the opportunity to attend the last two football games as the vast majority of Vanderbilt’s undergraduate student body will depart campus this week for the remainder of the semester as in-person classes conclude Nov. 20.
“While we’ve been able to learn so much and adapt our approach in regards to how to manage our game day environment as safely and efficiently as possible, the pandemic continues to be a major challenge,” Lee said. “Yet our parents and families have made so many sacrifices in support of their student-athletes this season. I’d like to extend my deepest appreciation to them for their patience, understanding and cooperation throughout these difficult months. This is a well-deserved opportunity for them to cheer on our Commodores in-person.”
“Similar to our approach with fall sports, we owe it to ourselves, our student-athletes’ families and our fans to gather as much information as possible and understand all aspects of what a basketball game day looks like during this pandemic before determining our fan attendance policies. We must also take into consideration the additional risks of competing indoors.”
Since Vanderbilt is permitting game day access to more than just the approved number of students permitted for its first three home games, up to 500 tickets will be issued to visiting teams for their student-athlete family members as required by the SEC.
Vanderbilt’s remaining two home football games include matchups with Florida (Nov. 21) and Tennessee (Nov. 28).
