WVU Announces No Spectators for Home Basketball Games in December

West Virginia Athletics announced Tuesday afternoon that it will not be allowing spectators for home basketball games through the month of December.

The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, in conjunction with University, local and state officials, has determined that December men's and women's home basketball games will take place without spectators in the WVU Coliseum. https://t.co/QLH6O7Tbkt

— WVU Sports (@WVUSports) December 1, 2020

WVU had previously announced a reduced capacity of 20% would be permitted inside the WVU Coliseum for home games this season. In a press release, WVU explained that this change was made over overall safety precautions around the COVID-19 pandemic.

“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,” WVU athletic director Shane Lyons said in the release. “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. “

WVU has 10 home basketball games scheduled for the month of Dec., four men’s games and six women’s games.

“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,” Lyons continued. “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 50^thanniversary.”