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UNC to allow limited fans at home sports following Cooper's latest executive order

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Wake Forest takes a free throw in the Dean Smith Center Jan. 20, 2021. The Tar Heels beat the Demon Deacons 80-73.

Following an easing of COVID-19 restrictions by Gov. Roy Cooper, a limited number of fans will be allowed at most UNC home athletic competitions starting on Feb. 26.

Starting on Friday at 5 p.m., indoor sporting venues with capacities above 5,000 people will be allowed to operate at 15 percent capacity, with the limit for outdoor venues remaining at 30 percent.

Most notably, this means the UNC men’s basketball teams' last two home games against No. 11 Florida State and Duke will allow for about 2,400 student fans to be in attendance. These tickets will only be available to students through the student lottery system. 

Those 2,400 seats only make up 75 percent of the available tickets, with the rest going to the families of athletes and coaches, health care workers from UNC Hospitals and some Rams Club members.

No men’s basketball tickets will be available for purchase.

“Our priorities will continue to be allowing family members of student-athletes and coaches, as well as Carolina students, into our arenas,” UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham said in a press release on Thursday. “We also have worked to include opportunities for faculty, staff, Rams Club members and sponsors to attend different sporting events when possible.”

Fans can, however, purchase tickets to upcoming baseball as well as men’s and women’s lacrosse matches beginning Friday, Feb. 26. The first event to welcome fans back will be Friday's women’s lacrosse match against Duke, and tickets for men’s and women’s soccer matches will go on sale sometime next week, with a portion reserved for students.

Fans will also be allowed to attend the following events in a limited capacity:

  • Field hockey
  • Baseball
  • Men's and women's lacrosse
  • Men's and women's soccer
  • Softball
  • Volleyball
  • Gymnastics 
  • Men’s and women’s tennis 
  • Men’s and women’s golf
  • Rowing

“We hope that as the number of people affected by COVID-19 decreases around our state and country, we will be able to welcome more of you back,” Cunningham said. “Our staff continues to do everything we can to make our venues safe and welcoming for our students-athletes, coaches, staff and you."

@pjdaman12

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com

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