SAN MARCOS, Texas- To prepare for football's return to Bobcat Stadium in 2020, Texas State Athletics has announced several health and safety measures Bobcat fans will need to follow to combat the impact of Covid-19 when attending home football games this fall.
"These guidelines will help us manage the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, game officials, fans, staff, and visiting teams," said Texas State Director of Athletics Larry Teis. "Our goal is to provide the safest gameday environment. We have been working in conjunction with the NCAA, the Sun Belt Conference, university, federal, state, and local agencies to keep Bobcat Athletics facilities safe and within the State of Texas guidelines. It is more important now than ever that all of us follow these guidelines and recommendations so that we all can stay safe and continue playing this season. We look forward to seeing Bobcat fans cheering on our teams this fall."
BEFORE ATTENDING A FOOTBALL GAME
SYMPTOM SCREENING
Before coming to Bobcat Stadium to attend a football game, we ask that spectators perform a
self-assessment based on CDC best practices and recommendations and stay home if sick. People who are at higher risk for complications from COVID-19 are strongly encouraged not to attend live events. Symptoms to watch for include:
- Fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or higher
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
ARRIVAL AND GATE ENTRY
Texas State is implementing several measures to make arrival and entry to Bobcat Stadium a safe experience. These measures include face coverings, social distancing, and assigned seating.
- FACE COVERING
- All fans attending games are required to wear face coverings that completely cover the nose and mouth upon entry into Bobcat Stadium and when they are not in their seat. Fans are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings while in their seats.
- Per CDC guidelines, face coverings should NOT be worn by children under the age of 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove face coverings without assistance.
- Social distancing markers are at each entry point to Bobcat Stadium. Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff, and Bobcat Club members sitting in the Legacy Suites and Champions Club areas can enter gates two hours before the game begins. TXST.com/gameday.
- Fans must enter Bobcat Stadium at the assigned segment described on their digital ticket. Each segment has its own restrooms, concessions, and entry gates.
- East Segment Entry – Gates 6 & 8
- West Segment Entry – Gates 1 & 2
- North Segment Entry – Gates 4 & 5
CONTACTLESS TICKETING
As previously released, contactless ticketing is available to all spectators through our digital ticketing platforms. Click the
previously released digital ticketing information to view our digital ticketing opportunities.
STUDENT TICKETS
Digital ticketing is also available to Texas State students, who are encouraged to claim their game ticket in advance online by filling out the
TXST Student Game Ticket Request form.
Request forms are available on the TXST.com website beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday of each game week and must be submitted by 2 p.m. the day before the requested game.
- Students can only request one ticket for themselves.
- Each student will be assigned a seat in either sections 115-123, or sections 211-223.
- Requests for each home game must be submitted separately.
- Seats are assigned in the order that the forms are received until capacity is reached or the deadline passes.
- Digital tickets will be delivered via email from gametickets@txstate.edu with the subject line: "Your Texas State Mobile Tickets are ready!"
STADIUM CAPACITY AND RESERVED SEATING
CAPACITY REDUCTION
Seating at our season-opening game against SMU on September 5 is limited to a 25% stadium capacity (7,500 spectators). ALL CAPACITY DECISIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Texas State will communicate any changes to Bobcat fans.
RESERVED SEATING FOR EVERYONE
General admission seating is eliminated for the 2020 season to help with social distancing efforts and contact tracing. All seating options will be reserved with a specific seat location to ensure distancing between individuals and groups to help create a safer experience for fans.
GAMEDAY PARKING
BOBCAT CLUB SEASON PARKING PASSES
The Bobcat Club provides all active Bobcat Club donors with a printed booklet of parking passes to help fans access their assigned lots for the 2020 Bobcat Football Season. Below is a list of parking benefits that each level in the Bobcat Club receives:
- Champions ($25,000+) and Platinum ($6,000-$24,999) donors are eligible for one season pass to Lot 2 and a reserved parking sign to designate their reserved parking space.
- Diamond ($3,000-$5,999) and Gold ($1,250-$2,999) donors are eligible for one season pass to Lot 2 access as well.
- Silver ($600-$1,249) donors receive one season pass to Lot 3 on the west side of Bobcat Stadium.
- Bronze ($300-$599) donors receive one season pass to access gameday parking in Lot 4 in the Strahan Lot.
- Bobcat Club donors may exchange their season donor passes for RV parking, or parking passes to the Bobcat Club reserved parking area.
The reserved donor parking lots are open three (3) hours before kickoff. RV parking is allowed the day before the game beginning at 4 p.m. in designated locations. For more information about exchanging or signing up for gameday parking benefits, please contact the Bobcat Club at 512-245-2117 or
bobcatclub@txstate.edu.
PAID PARKING FOR STUDENTS
- General game day parking is available in the Bobcat Stadium East Lot (previously Tailgate Central) for students only at $10 per spot. Only one spot is available for purchase per vehicle. Spaces can be purchased online in advance or on game day.
- Students must show their Texas State ID upon arrival in the lot.
- Online Purchase – you must bring your receipt for admittance.
- In-Person Purchase- Is by Credit only. No cash will be accepted.
FREE PARKING
Free parking is available this season at the Mill Street Parking Lot, UEC Parking Lot, and Clear Springs Parking Lot. Lot 5 will not be available for game-day parking this season.
ALL LOTS
- All general game day parking will open two (2) hours before kickoff.
- No tailgating will be allowed.
- View all Texas State game day parking options, including shuttle service at TXST.com/gameday.
NO ORGANIZED TAILGATING (TAILGATE CENTRAL)
To reduce large gatherings and encourage social distancing, organized tailgating, including Tailgate Central, is not allowed at Bobcat Stadium for the 2020 season. This season, the lot on the east side of the stadium is for students only. Fans attending games will only be permitted to purchase parking spaces for one vehicle and occupy one parking space.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WITH CONCESSIONS
At Texas State dining, health and safety are of paramount importance. We have implemented a comprehensive
university plan – Our Roadmap to ensure we effectively reduce the spread of COVID-19. Below are a few of the precautions that Texas State Dining is currently putting into effect in concessions operations.
FOCUS ON GUEST SAFETY
- Texas State is installing physical distancing signage and floor decals to direct guests on where to stand to maintain six feet distance from others around them.
- Stanchions will direct line queuing where applicable.
- Texas State is increasing the frequency of cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting at frequent high touchpoints.
- There are Sneeze Guards at the points of sale to protect our associates and our guests.
- Hand sanitizer is also available for use after each sale.
- There are no cash sales. Only credit cards, debit cards, or meal plan payment methods are accepted.
- All vendors and suppliers are required to wear a mask in and around our facilities.
- Individual condiment packets and pre-packaged plasticware are available.
CHANGES ON MENU
- Only bottled beverages will be available for purchase to increase the speed of service.
- Food items are limited to high-demand, fan-favorite items for speed of service.
- Guests can pre-order their food or bottled beverage using the GRUBHUB APP and pick-up their order at the designated pick-up area.
- GRUBHUB mobile ordering is available in select stands at concessions.
WORKER SAFETY
- Temperature and symptom checks are documented by management for all subcontractors, associates, and volunteers before they enter the facility.
- Face masks are required.
- Increased frequency of handwashing, hand sanitization, and glove management will occur.
- There are enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures.
- The physical distancing of six feet is enforced in the kitchen.
RESTROOM SAFETY MEASURES
All restrooms within Bobcat Stadium are limited in capacity to promote social distancing and increase sanitizing frequency. Each restroom is monitored, allowing only an assigned occupancy, and when applicable, restrooms will have designated entries and exits.
An assigned sanitizing technician is responsible for maintaining cleanliness and paying extra attention to the high touch surfaces in each restroom.
CLEANING AND DISINFECTING
Keeping Bobcat Stadium clean and high touch surfaces disinfected is a top priority for 2020. Texas State will follow CDC guidelines and deploy an amplified cleaning team focused on making sure the facility is clean and safe for everyone. Hand sanitizer stations are available throughout the stadium for patrons to utilize as desired.
STAFF REQUIREMENTS
All game day personnel are required to follow strict guidelines to protect the health of Bobcat patrons and staff once they enter Bobcat Stadium. Each staff member is subject to a pre-screening health questionnaire and temperature check. While within the stadium, all game day staff will be required to wear facial coverings, and frequently wash or sanitize their hands when they are not wearing gloves.
COMMUNICATING SAFETY UPDATES
Fans can receive updates on Bobcat Athletics safety measures by connecting through one or all these communication channels.
ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO FOLLOW THE BOBCATS
Be sure to follow the Bobcat throughout the 2020 season. Fans can:
- Watch games on ESPN+ Network.
- Listen to the TXST Radio Network on TuneIn Network.
- Follow us on social media channels @TxStateBobcats and @TXSTATEFOOTBALL.
- View live stats available through TXST.com.
