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The Big Ten Conference has gone back and forth on allowing fans to attend basketball games. In March 2020, the Big Ten banned fans from attending the men's basketball tournament games due to the coronavirus outbreak, limiting attendance to essential staff, athletes, and media. However, in March 2021, the Big Ten announced that a limited number of fans, approximately 8,000, would be allowed to attend the men's and women's basketball tournaments, with health and safety procedures in place. This decision was made in consultation with local health departments and experts, with the goal of transitioning to a localized approach for allowing fans while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of announcement | March 4, 2021 |
| Number of fans allowed | Up to 8,000 |
| Ticket type | Mobile tickets only |
| Stadium gates open | One hour prior to each session |
| Stadium name | Lucas Oil Stadium |
| Stadium capacity | Large |
| Attendance policy | Defaulted to local guidelines |
| Attendance restricted to | Student-athletes, coaches, event staff, essential team and conference staff, media, and immediate family members |
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What You'll Learn
- In 2020, Big Ten banned fans from basketball tournaments due to COVID-19
- In 2021, Big Ten allowed a limited number of fans at basketball tournaments
- Big Ten implemented health and safety procedures to limit the spread of COVID-19
- Big Ten transitioned to local decision-making, following health department guidelines
- Big Ten allowed fans into regular-season events for the first time since March 2020
In 2020, Big Ten banned fans from basketball tournaments due to COVID-19
In 2020, the Big Ten Conference announced that attendance at all Big Ten men's basketball tournament games would be restricted. This decision was made to ensure the safety of student-athletes, coaches, and staff amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The new attendance policy limited entry to student-athletes, coaches, essential team and conference staff, media partners, and immediate family members of the participating teams. The ban on fans was not limited to basketball but extended to all Big Ten Conference winter and spring sport competitions, including championship events.
The announcement came just hours after the NCAA revealed that it would restrict fan access to its men's basketball tournament, following the lead of other sporting events due to the coronavirus outbreak. This last-minute disruption caused logistical challenges for the NCAA and its broadcast partners, CBS, and Turner Sports.
The following year, in 2021, the Big Ten Conference made the decision to allow a limited number of fans to attend the Big Ten Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments. Up to 8,000 fans were permitted to attend the games in person, with the specific number determined in consultation with local health departments and university medical experts. This marked the first time since March of the previous year that fans were allowed to attend regular-season events.
The Big Ten Conference continued to prioritize the health and safety of everyone involved, implementing numerous procedures to limit the spread of COVID-19. These procedures were designed in accordance with local and CDC guidelines, with stadium gates opening early to accommodate fans and ensure a smooth entry process.
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In 2021, Big Ten allowed a limited number of fans at basketball tournaments
In 2020, the Big Ten Conference announced that attendance at all Big Ten men's basketball tournament games would be limited to student-athletes, coaches, event staff, essential team and conference staff, TV network partners, credentialed media, and immediate family members of the participating teams. This decision was made in response to the coronavirus outbreak and was in line with other sporting events restricting fan access at the time.
However, in 2021, the Big Ten Conference made the decision to allow a limited number of fans to attend the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament. Up to 8,000 fans were permitted to attend the games in person, which took place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. This venue was chosen due to its large capacity, allowing for easy social distancing between fans. The decision to allow fans was made in consultation with the Marion County Health Department, with the goal of transitioning from a conference-wide approach to local decision-making.
This policy update included spring football events and applied to both the men's and women's basketball tournaments. It was the first time since March 2020 that fans were allowed to attend regular-season events. The Big Ten Conference emphasized that the health and safety of everyone involved, including student-athletes, coaches, officials, fans, and campus communities, remained their highest priority.
To ensure the safety of all attendees, the venue implemented several health and safety procedures, including requirements for fans and stadium employees on game days. These procedures were designed to meet local and CDC guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19. Stadium gates opened an hour before each session to accommodate early-arriving fans and help manage the flow of people entering the stadium.
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Big Ten implemented health and safety procedures to limit the spread of COVID-19
In 2020, the Big Ten Conference announced that attendance at all Big Ten men's basketball tournament games would be limited to student-athletes, coaches, event staff, essential team and conference staff, TV network partners, credentialed media, and immediate family members of the participating teams. This decision was made to ensure the safety of everyone involved amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
In 2021, the Big Ten Conference allowed a limited number of fans to attend the Big Ten Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments. The decision to allow a limited capacity of 8,000 attendees was made jointly by the Big Ten Conference Directors of Athletics and the Council of President and Chancellors in consultation with the conference office. This decision followed the announcement that the conference would follow local health guidelines and restrictions for all remaining 2020-2021 Big Ten Conference championships and tournaments.
The Big Ten implemented health and safety procedures to limit the spread of COVID-19, with the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches, officials, fans, and campus communities as their highest priority. Stadium gates opened one hour prior to each session of the tournament to accommodate early-arriving fans. Lucas Oil Stadium, where the games were held, instituted numerous health and safety procedures for all events, including requirements for fans and stadium employees on game days. These procedures were designed to meet local and CDC guidelines.
The Big Ten transitioned from a conference-wide approach to local decision-making in consultation with public health departments and university medical experts. The goal was to allow fans to return to conference venues while providing a safe environment for all involved. The Big Ten encouraged anyone attending a sporting event to consult the guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Big Ten transitioned to local decision-making, following health department guidelines
In March 2020, the Big Ten Conference announced that attendance at all Big Ten men's basketball tournament games would be limited to student-athletes, coaches, event staff, essential team and conference staff, TV network partners, credentialed media, and immediate family members of the participating teams. This decision was made in response to the coronavirus outbreak and was in line with other sporting events restricting fan access at the time.
However, in March 2021, the Big Ten transitioned to local decision-making for fan attendance, following health department guidelines. This meant that the number of fans allowed to attend games would depend on local health guidelines and restrictions. The goal of this transition was to allow a limited number of fans to attend the 2021 Big Ten Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments while prioritizing the health and safety of everyone involved.
For example, following approval by the Marion County Health Department, up to 8,000 fans were allowed to attend the 2021 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis. This decision was made due to the large venue size of Lucas Oil Stadium, allowing for easy social distancing. The venue also implemented health and safety procedures, including requirements for fans and stadium employees on game days, to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The transition to local decision-making considered the varying capacities of indoor and outdoor stadiums. For instance, according to the Michigan directive, indoor stadiums with a capacity of less than 10,000 people could allow up to 375 attendees, while those with a capacity greater than 10,000 could permit up to 750. Meanwhile, outdoor stadiums could operate at up to 20% capacity if certain COVID-19 restrictions were met.
The Big Ten's shift to local decision-making, in consultation with public health departments and university medical experts, aimed to balance the return of fans to conference venues with the priority of ensuring the well-being of student-athletes, coaches, officials, and the wider campus community.
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Big Ten allowed fans into regular-season events for the first time since March 2020
In March 2021, the Big Ten Conference announced that a limited number of fans would be allowed to attend the Big Ten Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments for the first time since March 2020. The decision followed the announcement that all further Big Ten Conference winter and spring sport competitions would be limited to student-athletes, coaches, event staff, essential team and conference staff, TV network partners, credentialed media, and immediate family members of the participating teams due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The 2021 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament, which took place from March 10-14, allowed up to 8,000 fans to attend in person. The games were played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the home of the Indianapolis Colts, which provided ample space to spread fans out. The decision to allow fans was made jointly by the Big Ten Conference Directors of Athletics and the Council of President and Chancellors in consultation with the conference office and with approval from the Marion County Health Department.
The Big Ten Conference announced that attendance policies for the remaining 2020-2021 competitions would default to local guidelines, allowing fans into regular-season events for the first time since March 2020. The goal was to transition from a conference-wide approach to local decision-making in consultation with public health departments and university medical experts. The Big Ten Conference emphasized that the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches, officials, fans, and campus communities remained their highest priority, and procedures were designed to meet local and CDC guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The return of fans to Big Ten basketball tournaments and regular-season events was welcomed by many, including Nebraska fans who were eager to cheer on their Huskers in person. The Big Ten's decision was applauded as a positive step towards normal operations in college athletics, with staff working closely with local health officials to provide a safe environment in the venues.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Big Ten Basketball is allowing fans, although attendance is limited to 8,000. Fans are encouraged to familiarise themselves with health and safety procedures at Lucas Oil Stadium, where the games are being played.
Big Ten Basketball started allowing fans to attend games again in March 2021.
When fans were not allowed, attendance was limited to student-athletes, coaches, event staff, essential team and conference staff, TV network partners, credentialed media, and immediate family members of the participating teams.
Fans were not allowed at Big Ten Basketball games due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
