(by Jacob Pumphrey, SAU Athletics)
Mulerider Athletics to Allow Limited Spectator Capacity Inside W.T. Watson Center
Southern Arkansas, per updated GAC policy, to allow groups of four on player/coach pass list inside W.T. Watson Center for M/W Basketball, Volleyball; multiple events on same night to be split into sessions.
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Per the updated Great American Conference policy on indoor sport fan attendance, Southern Arkansas University and Mulerider Athletics have announced that a limited number of spectators will be allowed inside the W.T. Watson Center beginning Monday, February 1. Student-athletes and non-student coaching staff members of the Mulerider Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams and the Mulerider Volleyball team will each receive 4 tickets to provide family members to attend games.
Due to the nature of crowd participation at sporting events, this season face coverings WILL BE REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES, including when seated inside the W.T. Watson Center. We encourage fans to make noise, and we want to provide as safe an environment as possible on our campus.
“We’re thankful that the Great American Conference’s Council of Presidents have decided to open our athletic facility doors to allow families to see our student-athletes compete,” remarked SAU Director of Athletics Steve Browning. “The SAU Risk Management Task Force has put in the requisite protocols to make this a safe and successful opportunity for families to see their favorite Mulerider in action. A lot of hard work has gone into being able to take this next step and we are excited for what’s to come.”
W.T. Watson Center Facility Guidelines for Spectators
All guidelines/protocol will be enacted beginning February 1
*Four nontransferable tickets will be allotted to each student-athlete and coaching staff member of the SAU men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams.
*Fans with tickets to the first or only game of the evening will be permitted to enter the W.T. Watson Center thirty (30) minutes prior to scheduled tip-off.
*On days with multiple games scheduled to be played inside the W.T. Watson Center, entrance will be split into sessions. Fans with tickets for the first game of the evening (session 1) will be required to immediately exit the facility following competition to allow for the previously-enacted health and safety sanitation protocols to begin. Fans with tickets for the second game (session 2) will be required to remain outside the facility until given the okay to enter.
*Fans who choose to wait inside their vehicles for the second session to open can tune in to KVMZ 99.1 FM Magnolia’s Country as Mulerider play-by-play voice Dan Gregory will announce when second session fans can enter the W.T. Watson Center.
Per the GAC:
Effective Monday, student-athletes and non-student coaching staff may invite up to four guests to attend home contests.
“Our presidents and administrators worked diligently to find a solution that allows GAC student-athletes to play in front of loved ones, but does not compromise our primary goals of campus health and continued competition,” GAC Commissioner Will Prewitt said.
At their own discretion, individual institutions may implement additional restrictions. All seating will be arranged to adhere to current local and state social distance protocols.
