Last month University of Georgia officials elected to defer the decision whether or not to allow tailgating on campus for the 2020 football season, after deciding to limit Sanford Stadium’s capacity to 20-25%.
Today, UGA Athletics finally released an official statement with their decision regarding tailgating in 2020, just 11 days before kickoff.
“Tailgating has been a part of the gameday tradition for home football games at the University of Georgia for decades. However, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, tailgating will not be permitted on campus this season.”
While Georgia fans may not have a traditional tailgate experience this season, UGA Athletics said that fans may gather around vehicles in the on-campus parking lots, which will be opened three hours before kickoff.
They are requiring only those who have traveled together, or who plan to sit with each other at the game to be present around the vehicles and will require each person to have their game tickets with them.
Georgia is one of the last SEC schools to announce revamped plans for tailgating amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
LSU, Alabama, Auburn and Florida are some of the schools who have already banned the football tradition from their campuses.
Georgia officials also added a note about off-campus gatherings.
“While we strongly encourage individuals and organizations off campus to follow UGA’s lead in taking appropriate measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, enforcement of social gatherings off-campus remains under the jurisdiction of Athens-Clarke County.”
Read UGA Athletics’ full statement here.