Elgin County, PA, (KDKA) – Other local school districts tested water with large crowds at football games Friday without state or local assembly limits.
A federal judge ruled that some state sanctions were unconstitutional, including a set of limits, while Elegance County lifted the ban on Thursday.
However, many schools in the area are not yet open to everyone. Seneca Valley hosted Norwin on Friday night for their first home game of the season.
Each participant – including the band, dance team and cheerleader – received two tickets. Norwin also received a limited number of tickets. Heather Lewis, director of Seneca Valley Athletics, said the stadium had a capacity of about 16 percent.
“We are going to do it responsibly, and we will do it safely,” he said. “We must not forget that we still have the plague.”
Lewis praised the community community, most of whom wore masks and followed social distances. Each bleacher at Nextier Stadium was marked with either a red or yellow X. Yellow X means Blair was open, while Yellow X means Blair was closed.
Chris Martin, the father of a senior on the Senka Valley football team, said there was some uncertainty over the summer as to whether there would be any weather.
“There’s nothing better than Friday night,” he said. “It means everything has to be here.”
Limited ticket sales have become a popular method of crowd control in all areas.
(Photo credit: KDKA)
Following the announcement of Allegheny County on Thursday, the Hampton Township School District has announced that it will allow more people to participate in sports events, starting with Friday’s football game.
“We actually found out late this evening,” said Bill Cardon, director of the Hampton Ta Ship Naship Athletic. “We have decided to start slowly now to coordinate and organize everything that you have to do.”
Each Hampton soccer player, cheerleader and band member received two tickets. Dots on bleachers promote social distances. The incoming team did not receive tickets.
Tony Harold, whose son is a senior on Hampton’s soccer team, said he watched the first two games of the season through a live stream.
“I’ve been coming to all of his games since he was in first grade, so I’m very excited,” he said of watching the live game.
Cardon hopes that this week’s protocols will increase fan attendance in the future.
“Right now, we’re at 25 percent, maybe we’re going to be at 50 percent,” he said.
