Tennessee announces COVID-19 procedures for Neyland Stadium attendees

While it remains to be seen just how many Tennessee fans will be attending home games this season, we now know how COVID-19 will affect the faithful at Neyland Stadium.

The answer? Not very much.

Tennessee announced on Wednesday that there will be no mask or proof-of-vaccine requirements for fans attending games this fall:

Per a Tennessee spokesman, UT will not require vaccination proof or masks for fans attending home football games this season.

— Eric Cain (@_Cainer) August 24, 2021

There is an ongoing debate worldwide as to the next step to fight off the COVID-19 pandemic. Some schools will require masks and possibly proof of vaccination to be allowed to attend public events.

Neyland Stadium can seat over 100,000 fans but that seems unlikely at any point this season. Along with COVID, attendance could be affected by a team with historically low expectations.

The Vols host Bowling Green to open the season on Sept. 2. In order to boost attendance, UT has announced that student tickets will come with a “buddy” pass. It remains to be seen if the “buddy” pass will still be in effect during the remainder of the home schedule when the Vols host Pittsburgh, Tennessee Tech, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Georgia, South Alabama and Vanderbilt.

Dave Hooker

Dave Hooker started covering Tennessee in 1998. He hosts an SEC radio show out of Chattanooga and covers the SEC for Saturday Down South.