WVU Athletics

WVU Announces Return to Full Capacity for Athletic Events

Published

3 years ago

June 15, 2021

Tom Bragg/WVSportsNow

West Virginia University athletics will operate at 100% capacity beginning in August, the WVU athletic department announced Tuesday afternoon. In a release, WVU athletic director Shane Lyons announced that all Mountaineer athletics venues will be open at 100% capacity starting in August.

“I want to thank our fans for their patience and understanding throughout the past year,” Lyons said. “Not only is this great news for Mountaineer Nation and our student-athletes, but it adds to the excitement and anticipation for Mountaineer football. A full stadium of 60,000 fans is exactly what our team deserves, and what our fans have been wanting.”

Milan Puskar Stadium will have full operating procedures for all six of WVU football’s home games this coming season, including pregame tailgating and stadium parking lots.

“I also want to thank our University, local and state officials for their work throughout the past year. We certainly have been in good hands with their advice and leadership,” Lyons added. “I can’t wait for this fall to again see the rows of tailgaters, experience the thrill of the Mantrip and the roar of a packed stadium singing “Country Roads.”

WVU football is scheduled for six home games in 2021 with Long Islan, Virginia Tech, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Texas all coming to town. WVU’s home opener will be against Long Island on Sept. 11 at 5 p.m.

In a release earlier today, WVU announced that the university is planning to have a fully open campus for the fall 2021 semester. In the release, sent out by WVUToday, the university cites a 57% month-to-month decrease in COVID-19 cases from May 14 to June 14 with only 2,799 active cases in the state. The release also cites that 52% of West Virginians over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Classrooms, the PRT and WVU buses, dining halls, the student rec center and on-campus in-person events will all be permitted to operate at 100% capacity beginning on June 20.