The University of North Carolina Athletics Department announced Friday morning that there will be no fans in attendance at any home fall sporting events, including football games, through at least the end of September.
This decision means fans won't be allowed to attend the Tar Heels' first two football games of the season against Syracuse and UNC-Charlotte. Fans will also have to miss cross country, field hockey, volleyball, men's soccer and women's soccer events in Chapel Hill until October at the earliest, although those teams haven't released their official schedules yet.
The athletics department "will continue to work with medical experts and the University to evaluate safety conditions with the hope that we can increase capacity in October," Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham said in a statement.
The University also announced that it will not permit any tailgating events on campus during the restriction.
"We know this is disappointing to you — our fans, donors, and supporters — and our venues will not be the same without you there," Cunningham said in the statement. "We will particularly miss the energy, passion and Carolina Blue support of our students, who truly make game day special and unique. This decision, however, was the only way we could move forward with competition. Our student-athletes want to play, and we must do so as safely as possible. We made this decision in consultation with medical experts, our University, and state and local officials."
