OU announces gameday policies, procedures

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NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department has announced game day procedures for the 2020 football season, as well as additional information related to the fan experience at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Many of the policies for 2020 were formulated to increase the number of touchless services.

Mask policy

• Appropriate cloth or surgical-style masks that cover the nose and mouth completely will be required at all times while on campus and in Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

• Other face coverings including clear face shields, gaiters/buffs, bandanas or masks with valves are not permitted.

• Masks may be removed temporarily only if necessary for eating and drinking while in the stadium seating bowl, or in common areas of clubs, suites and loges.

• Fans may purchase approved masks from any of The Sooner Shop locations on game day if their mask does not meet guidelines.

Stadium seating pattern

Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium seating capacity will be based on the establishment of “family” seating pods of 2 to 8 based on the primary ticketholders request with a consistent pattern of separation between each of the pods. The pattern will be arrayed throughout the stadium bowl in a manner that best fits the configuration of each seating section. Suites and loge boxes are separate pods.

The pattern was developed with the assistance of sports architecture firm Populous, which has worked with the University on a number of football stadium projects including the most recent handrail and seating bowl improvements prior to the 2019 season. Populous sports facility experience includes design and/or event planning for collegiate facilities, Olympic venues, World Cup venues, the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, etc.

The basic components of the seating capacity pattern include:

• “Family” seating pods of 2 to 8 will be assigned.

• No seat will be occupied directly in front or directly behind any family pod: an empty seat will be on the row directly in front and the row directly behind each seat in a family pod.

• Each family pod will have direct access to an aisle without crossing in front of any other family pod on the same row.

• The closest pod on the same row in the seating bowl will be separated by 3 empty seats.

• An additional element of the stadium capacity includes a separation of seating from the field bench areas by 6 empty rows. These seating patterns permit a stadium capacity in the seating bowl of approximately 20,300, and approximately 2,400 in suites and loge boxes.

Sanitation

• All high-touch areas and the stadium seating bowl will be disinfected prior to fan arrival.

• Approximately 230 hand sanitizer stations will be available in the stadium concourse, premium areas and press box levels.

• Additional game day staff will be dedicated to restrooms and other public and high-traffic areas.

• Bottle-filler stations have been added on all main stadium concourses.