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The Power Five => Big XII => Topic started by: CWSooner on May 20, 2020, 12:20:41 PM

Title: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: CWSooner on May 20, 2020, 12:20:41 PM
Large events in Austin not likely through end of 2020, officials say
Austin American-Statesman
Posted at 10:10 AM

Large events like the Austin City Limits Music Festival or Longhorn Football games are not likely through the end of the year as the coronavirus pandemic continues, Austin Public Health officials said Wednesday.

“The large events are the first thing that we turned off and are going to be the last thing we’re going to turn back on because of that risk of exposing lots of people to one another, particularly individuals of the same household,” said interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott.

Austin is currently in Stage 3 of its reopening plan, which allows low-risk people to gather, shop and dine out in groups of 10 or fewer.

Escott said the city would have to move into Stage 1 of the plan to consider large events again. In Stage 1, high-risk residents would have to avoid gatherings of 25 people or more. The size of gatherings for low-risk people during Stage 1 has not yet been determined.

“We are working on a plan to help forecast what we think is going to be reasonable, but looking through the end of December, we don’t have any indications at this stage that we would be able to mitigate risk enough to have large events, particularly ones over 2,500,” Escott said.

Determining what events will be able to happen in the next month or two months is difficult as news with the coronavirus changes very quickly, he said.

Potential factors, including an effective treatment that can be administered early in a coronavirus case, or rapid testing that could be done at the gates of a University of Texas game using saliva, would be considered in opening the city more, Escott said.

More events will be possible if Austin can keep the number of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations low over the next few months.

“I think that’s incentive for us to work hard at that social distancing, work hard at ensuring that people who are sick stay home and if they’re staying home, they’re directed to testing, so that we can get a handle on this,” Escott said.

“We really all as a community have to be focused on the goal of ensuring, number one, that things stay open and number two, that we get ourselves in a situation which will allow us to open the window even more in the future, particularly in the fall,” he said”



Austin health officials skeptical of large crowds gathering for Texas football in 2020
Posted May 20th, 2020
Brian Davis American-Statesman Staff


Austin health officials are still skeptical large crowds will be able to gather at Texas football games this fall without good treatments or tests upon entry.

“As much as we want things to be back to normal, they are not back to normal yet,” Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott told reporters Wednesday.

As of now, there are no plans to change the 2020 UT football schedule or the amount of fans allowed into the 100,000-seat facility. But Texas officials continue to monitor things and follow the guidelines set forth by state and local officials, UT athletic director Chris Del Conte told the American-Statesman on Wednesday.


Quote
Tony Plohetski
@tplohetski
JUST IN: Asked about ACL or Longhorn football, Austin health authority says he still can't envision large-scale events through the end of year, especially those of 2,500 or more. But he says that could change if there is good treatment or rapid tests for people upon entry.
9:28 AM · May 20, 2020

Starting this week, UT football coaches and a group of about 30 employees are being allowed back into their north end zone offices. To get in, they must follow new guidelines set forth in a 48-page document UT athletics created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To get inside, UT employees must fill out an online questionnaire before leaving their house each morning. Upon arrival, they must pass a temperature check and wear a face covering.

The Big 12 conference has suspended all athletic activity through May. Next week, a decision is expected to be made on when or if athletes can return in June.
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: longhorn320 on May 20, 2020, 12:23:18 PM
I still have hope that they will find a way to play the games
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: Cincydawg on May 20, 2020, 12:51:30 PM
I think they play in front of very small dispersed crowds.  You might get a ticket for timed entry to avoid lines.
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: Mr Tulip on May 20, 2020, 01:01:43 PM
I suppose that technically, the stadium is not subject to the City of Austin nor Travis County. The University is state property, and has in the past done its own thing.

Still, it's hard to imagine that many people gathering without a dramatic shift in the virus ecosystem.

I imagine the Big 12, with input from the NCAA and related conferences, will do more to determine the football environment in Austin than the city will.
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: Cincydawg on May 20, 2020, 01:06:32 PM
Our botanical garden just reopened, members only, reserved time tickets, limited numbers.

Season ticket holders only, perhaps, extra tickets available potentially to purchase.  Entry is at various specific times before the game and gates to avoid lines.  Each holder of multiple tickets to be grouped and separated from any other group.  Distancing highly encouraged if grouped anywhere.

It should be doable.
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: utee94 on May 20, 2020, 01:54:54 PM
I suspect they'll find a way to play even with small or no crowds.   The revenue shortfall will be tremendous though, the athletics budget is probably about half made up from football revenue from gate receipts, concessions, parking, etc.  Playing in front of small of zero crowds means cutting the budget by $70-$80 million.  I'm not sure that's feasible.  I'm not sure it's even in the same realm as feasible to be honest.

Same is true for most other major football schools with large stadiums, same problem will be encountered all over the country.
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: Mr Tulip on May 20, 2020, 02:28:48 PM
Tons of "what if"'s right now:

What if not every conference (or team) agrees to play?
What if students do not return to various schools?
What if there's a flare up?
What if one (or more) players on a team tests positive?

As we all know, the majority of sports at the majority of universities are flat out money losers. They're done because, oddly, a university athletics department exists primarily for the development of its students. We happen to enjoy viewing a few of those sports, and as such, money can be made.

Football, via television contracts, sponsorships, and ticket sales, underpins essentially all these activities. Many football programs in themselves are being operated at close to zero profit. Universities with seeming fiscally healthy departments may suddenly find themselves in trouble because of disaster befalling those who aren't.

Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: Cincydawg on May 20, 2020, 02:37:02 PM
Ticket sales — which don’t yet take into account a football ticket price increase for last season — accounted for $25,965,902 in revenue. Student fees were $3,476,179. Football accounted for $23,619,765 of tickets sales.
Georgia’s total revenue is $2.6 million more than Alabama, which was $174.3 million, according to AL.com
Texas A&M, Texas, Michigan and Ohio State all reported total operating revenue of more than $195 million, according to USA Today. Texas brought in $219 million in operating revenue and had total expenses of more than $206.5 million
Georgia’s football total revenue was $129,023,591 while its expenses were $44,909,546, a profit of $84.1 million.


Kinda funny seeing how much of total ticket sales if football, not that it's a shock of course.


Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: FearlessF on May 20, 2020, 03:23:18 PM
I thought y'all were a Red state?
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: utee94 on May 20, 2020, 03:31:05 PM
Austin's a large blueberry in the midst of a red field.
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: utee94 on May 20, 2020, 03:32:24 PM
As for my general response on the subject, I'll just copy/paste over from what I wrote on the similar B1G forum thread:

Things are going to look very different in a few months.  Just because the dorms shut down and classes went online, the players didn't stop meeting with friends, going to house parties, hooking up with girls.  They're not social distancing and they're not wearing masks.  They're young and they feel invincible and they're not taking a lot of precautions.  By the end of the summer, I believe it's highly likely that many of them will show they already have antibodies for this.

The "if one player tests positive" rhetoric will be meaningless, because hundreds and perhaps thousands will have already had it and be testing positive.  Non-athlete students in classrooms will have had it, or will be getting it and testing positive, too.   

People keep making the mistake of looking at it through the lens of our current enivronment.  Things will look a lot different in a few months, which is precisely why nobody should be making far-reaching decisions about the future, right now, because they simply don't have to.  
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: FearlessF on May 21, 2020, 11:39:46 AM
Austin's a large blueberry in the midst of a red field.
I see this is an Austin thing and not a Governor thing

so the SEC Aggies will be playing, but not the Horns?  possibly 
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: utee94 on May 21, 2020, 12:55:57 PM
I see this is an Austin thing and not a Governor thing

so the SEC Aggies will be playing, but not the Horns?  possibly
UTexas sits on state property, not city property.  In all other things regarding those state properties, the state laws supersede.  For example, they are policed by state troopers, not City of Austin police.  Any parking revenue/rents collected, are allocated to the state, not the city.  And so on.

So, honestly, I'm not sure the city of Austin has the authority to forbid 100,000 people in a state-owned stadium.  Quite possibly, it's up to the governor.

Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: Gigem on May 21, 2020, 01:09:05 PM
I'm betting that football will proceed as usual come the fall.  
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: FearlessF on May 21, 2020, 02:02:45 PM
Utee,

Same with UNL.  State property.

I'm betting that if the Aggies are playing, the Horns will be playing
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: utee94 on May 21, 2020, 02:08:44 PM
Utee,

Same with UNL.  State property.

I'm betting that if the Aggies are playing, the Horns will be playing
It's not really the Aggies, it's the rest of the B12.  
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: FearlessF on May 21, 2020, 04:53:35 PM
I understand, but I think if the SEC plays, the Big 12 will play.
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: utee94 on May 21, 2020, 11:28:59 PM
I don't think one really has anything to do with the other.

If the SEC plays, does the B1G play?  Those are just as related.  Arguably moreso, since those are the two conferences that are locked into the financial Arms Race while everyone else can just stand outside and watch.



Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: Cincydawg on May 22, 2020, 08:37:40 AM
I think everyone will play except maybe in CA.  I think the season might get stopped before many games are played, however, that is a risk.

I could see an outbreak in a couple places and students start returning home in droves.
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: utee94 on May 22, 2020, 10:14:04 AM
I think everyone will play except maybe in CA.  I think the season might get stopped before many games are played, however, that is a risk.

I could see an outbreak in a couple places and students start returning home in droves.
There are plenty of arguments being made, now, that it's actually safer to leave students on campus, rather than sending them home to infect their more-at-risk parents.  For a large population of football players, I also believe their access to medical care should they need it, is much better on campus, than it would be at home.

Lots of complexity in any direction we head, of course.
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: Cincydawg on May 22, 2020, 03:38:57 PM
Universities will have full discretion on whether to return June 8 and must also follow state and local health directives concerning group activities.

The SEC has OK'd voluntary workouts starting June 8.

Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: CWSooner on May 22, 2020, 06:56:53 PM
Heh!

"Voluntary"
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: FearlessF on May 22, 2020, 07:32:59 PM
that means they are not required
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: CWSooner on May 22, 2020, 08:47:26 PM
Yes, that's the definition one finds in the dictionary.
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: FearlessF on May 22, 2020, 08:58:26 PM
it's only required if you want to play
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: CWSooner on May 22, 2020, 08:59:24 PM
That's the CFB corollary to the term.
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: utee94 on May 23, 2020, 12:44:20 AM
In other news, I paid voluntary taxes to the government this past year!
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: Cincydawg on May 23, 2020, 09:28:41 AM
I imagine the players will be voluntold.
Title: Re: No Footall in Austin in 2020?
Post by: utee94 on September 14, 2020, 08:21:02 AM
So, there has been football in Austin in 2020.  

It's a COVID miracle.