Attendees not required to show proof of vaccination, negative COVID-19 test for basketball games

Fans attending University of Richmond basketball games in the E. Claiborne Robins Center this season will be required to wear a mask but will not be required to present COVID-19 vaccination evidence nor a negative COVID-19 test, according to an athletic department press release on Oct. 29.

“The safety of our student-athletes, staff and fans remains our top priority so we can enjoy watching our Spiders in-person this season,” according to the press release.

The announcement came 11 days before the men’s and women’s basketball teams kick off their seasons on Nov. 9.

UR required students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before arriving on campus this semester. A mask mandate that requires masks to be worn indoors with a few exceptions is currently in place across campus.

Fans will only be allowed to take their masks off when actively eating or drinking, according to the press release.

Unlike last season, the Robins Center will not have seating restrictions, Jason Vida, an Athletics Department spokesperson, wrote in an email to the Collegian yesterday. However, pre-game or post-game events in the Robins Center Terraces and the Queally Athletic Center Spider Hall will be limited to 100 people, according to the press release. 

Fully vaccinated tier 1 personnel, which includes coaches, student-athletes and certain support staff, will not be required to wear masks in the designated bench areas, Vida wrote. People in the bench areas who are not fully vaccinated will be required to wear masks.

The Athletics Department could not disclose the vaccination status of student-athletes and staff of the men’s and women’s basketball teams for legal reasons.

All Athletics Department game management policies will be in compliance with all UR COVID-19 policies, Vida wrote.

The women’s basketball team will take on University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the Robins Center on Nov. 9 at 3 p.m., and the men’s team will take on North Carolina Central University in the Robins Center later today at 7 p.m.

Contact sports editor Krystian Hajduczka at krystian.hajduczka@richmond.edu.