Georgia, Georgia Tech crack down on tailgating at football games in COVID-19 era

Normal Saturdays around the streets of the Classic City are filled with people decked out in red-and-black. The sounds of loud music, live football games mix with the smell of grilled food and good times.

Due to coronavirus concerns, however, those scenes will largely be missing during the 2020 season. The University of Georgia announced Tuesday that “due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, tailgating will not be permitted on campus this season.”

But Georgia’s news Tuesday stopped short of being a full ban on tailgating.

“Fans will be allowed to gather near their vehicle with family members or those with whom they traveled and plan to sit within the stadium,” a Tuesday press release read. “UGA Athletics thanks fans in advance for adhering to these necessary, but regrettable, changes. We look forward to resuming our tradition of tailgating when it is safe to do so”

The Bulldogs play a four-game home slate and open at Sanford Stadium on Nov. 3 against Auburn.

Georgia’s decision to greatly restrict tailgating is in accordance with public health guidelines and counsel from UGA health officials. Other SEC schools executing a similar plan include Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU and Ole Miss.

Earlier Tuesday, Georgia Tech announced tailgating would not be allowed ahead of Saturday’s home opener against UCF. The gates to Bobby Dodd Stadium will be open at 2 p.m., and concessions will be discounted for the first hour. Georgia Southern, which opened its home slate on Sept. 12 vs. Campbell, is the only team in the state to allow tailgating.

“This is not a decision that was made lightly,” Georgia Tech director of athletics Todd Stansbury said. “However, at this time, we feel that the safest course of action is to invite fans to come straight from their vehicles to Bobby Dodd Stadium.”

At Georgia, the tailgating ban is the first of many changes to a game day atmosphere at Sanford Stadium. The capacity will be at 25 percent with seatbacks placed throughout the stadium in groups of four. Only 3,000 students will be admitted for each game, and applications for that lottery recently ended on Sept. 11.

The Redcoat Band will not be allowed to perform on-field prior to the game or at halftime. Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said on Aug. 19 that the “Dawg Walk” will likely be modified due to pandemic guidelines.

Everything will look different on what is usually a raucous Saturday afternoon in Athens. But football continues on.

“There will be plenty of room for people to spread out and maintain their distance,” said Georgia senior deputy athletic director Josh Brooks, who leads facilities.

This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 12:27 PM.