Michigan State Athletics sets policy for face coverings at fall events

With football season starting in just a couple of weeks, and other sports that have already started regular season play or will be starting soon, the Michigan State Athletics department has announced its face covering policy for fall events.

With the Delta variant of the virus surging, and the COVID-19 pandemic still raging on, the face covering policy aligns with Michigan State’s announcement in late July that all individuals must wear masks indoors at all Michigan State campus buildings.

While face coverings will not be required outdoors while seated in Spartan Stadium (although the university is recommending to still wear face coverings while seated), there are certain areas of the stadium where masks are mandatory.

Here is the list of rules at Spartan Stadium, per MSU Athletics:

• All individuals are required to wear masks indoors in all Michigan State campus buildings. With this policy in place, face coverings must be worn by everyone in attendance when in an indoor area of Spartan Stadium, unless actively eating or drinking.
• The indoor face covering requirement includes, but is not limited to, the concourse of Spartan Stadium, restrooms, elevators, indoor suite and club areas and the press box.
• Face coverings will not be required but are encouraged in the outdoor seating bowl of Spartan Stadium.
• For the safety of guests and staff, working staff will be required to wear a mask in all indoor areas of Spartan Stadium.

These protocols will be in effect during Monday night’s “Meet The Spartans” event at Spartan Stadium.

The face coverings policy is also required for people attending volleyball games inside Jenison Field House this fall, including the Green-White exhibition on Saturday, Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. Meanwhile, for outdoor fall sports, including men’s and women’s soccer at DeMartin Stadium and field hockey at Ralph Young Field, face coverings are not required in the stands, but will be required for any indoor spaces at those facilities.

Michigan State begins the football season on the road against Northwestern on Friday, Sept. 3. The first home game of the season at Spartan Stadium is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 11 against Youngstown State.