COLUMBIA, Mo. – In an effort to ensure the health and well-being of its fans, student-athletes, coaches, officials, staff and students attending 2020 Mizzou home football games, tailgating will be prohibited in all game-day parking lots and campus spaces.
“This was a difficult decision to make because of the passion Mizzou fans have for game-day tailgating and the backdrop it provides as part of a football Saturday in Columbia,” said Mizzou Director of Athletics Jim Sterk. “However, the health and safety of all our fans remain a top priority as we continue working toward a very different-looking 2020 season.”
Mizzou Athletics officials remind all fans that plans for the 2020 season are subject to change before and during the season along with updates to public health guidelines related to the spread of COVID-19. Fans with underlying conditions are encouraged to enjoy Mizzou games on television in the comfort of their homes this season rather than attending in person, even among sparser and social distanced fans.
“In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 and keep our community safe, we are prohibiting tailgating on University of Missouri property this fall,” said Vice Chancellor for Operations Gary Ward. “This means no tailgating anywhere — grassy or landscaped areas, sidewalks, streets, parking lots or parking structures.”
This difficult decision was made based on the guidance of public health officials and MU and MU Health Care’s own infectious disease experts. A number of other universities have taken similar steps to provide the safest environment possible to support the safety and continuation of athletic activities.
Mizzou Athletics announced last month that Memorial Stadium will open the 2020 season with no more than 25 percent of its capacity in order to provide fans with a socially-distanced game-day experience. Among numerous safety measures implemented for the season, fans will be required to wear face coverings both on campus and in Memorial Stadium while cheering on the Tigers, even when seated among family members, roommates, etc. A comprehensive and regularly updated list of all COVID-19 related changes and fan notifications can be found at MizzouGameday.com.
The Athletics Ticket Office is in the final stages of reseating Memorial Stadium for the 2020 season, and single-game tickets are not expected to be available for sale at this time. MU students will be sent information via email on their ticket options next week, as Mizzou Athletics continues to work with the University’s Office of Student Activities to finalize a distribution plan.
