COVID-19 Fan Attendance Policy & Media Protocols

The University of Mary fan attendance policy has been established to ensure the safest environment possible for spectators, game management personnel, officials, and our scholar-athletes. This policy has been created to be flexible and sensitive to the data provided by the North Dakota Department of Health dashboard which provides the most up to date information reflecting the current trend of Coronavirus Cases in the Burleigh County community.
 
The Active University of Mary Covid-19 Spectator Policy (Dec. 2020)
 
Currently, the University of Mary is under the 'Family Attendance Only' policy and will be until further notice. No tickets will be sold for UMary home events and games are not open to the general public. Beginning with the Women's Basketball home opener on Friday, January 2, only 125 spectators will be allowed entrance to the game. The Marauders basketball team will be issued 100 family passes for will-call admission with the visiting team being provided 25 passes for will-call admission. Each team's Head Coach will be responsible for providing a spectator will-call admission list 24 hours prior to the event. For a double game series, the Head Coach should submit a will-call list for both games. Adjustments can be made if communicated through the Head Coach. Other Covid-19 attendance options are listed below:
 
Other University of Mary Covid-19 Fan Attendance options
  •  Essential Personnel Only – This level will only allow game management, officials, and athletic teams inside the sports venue. This policy would be considered if there is a high positivity test rate in the University of Mary community and Burleigh County. 
  • Family Attendance Only – This level will allow 100 will-call passes issued to the UMary athletic team players and coaches to be distributed to family members and fans as determined by the Head Coach. The visiting team will be issued 25 will-call passes for their family members and fans as determined by the Head Coach. All names of fans attending the game must be provided to the University of Mary Athletic department 24 hours prior to the contest. This policy would be considered if the State of North Dakota is registering a test positivity rate of 10% or higher on a 14-day rolling average. 
  • Lottery & Family Attendance Only – This level will combine the family attendance policy along with an additional 125 will-call passes to be distributed to the University of Mary student body, faculty and Armada members as determined by a random lottery selection process. All names of fans accepting their lottery will-call pass, along with each team's family pass list, must be provided to the University of Mary Athletic department 24 hours prior to the contest. This policy would be considered if the State of North Dakota has a test positivity rate between 5-9.99%. If the test positivity rate is between the 2-4.99%, 100 additional lottery passes will be provided.
  • General Admittance – This level would be considered if the State of North Dakota test positivity rate is under 2%, which is considered the State's new normal. This would be a return to normal ticketing and game attendance standards. All students, faculty and staff would be admitted free with their UMary Card. Armada members would be admitted free with their Armada Card. All other game attendees would be charged for a single game ticket at the door or on-line.  

Game Attendance Requirements for Visiting Spectators
Screening & Personal Protective Equipment –
  • All fans attending UMary games will be screened prior to their entrance into the McDowell Activities Center.
  • The screening location will be at the Lumen Vitae University Center – McDowell west entrance.
  • Screening will consist of a temperature check and several COVID-19 questions.
  • Those in attendance will be expected to wear a mask, or appropriate face covering, throughout the venues at all times.
Will-Call Passes –
  • No tickets will be provided for admission into a Marauders sporting event.
  • The names of the approved spectators will be on a Will-Call list at the west entrance door of McDowell Activities Center.
  • The Head Coach of each team is expected to submit their will-call list 24 hours prior to the contest.
  • Spectators will be expected to maintain six feet separation to comply with county, state, and CDC guidelines regarding social distancing and large gatherings while gaining admission into the McDowell Activity Center.
Concessions
  • No concessions available at home events.
In-Game Considerations
  • Masking is required for all spectators in attendance regardless of state and local guidance. Additionally, fans must follow all Covid-19 safety, sanitation, and social distancing guidelines.
  • Fans in attendance are not permitted to sit or stand within at least twelve feet of the bench area, working staff, and playing surface.
  • Fans in attendance are strictly prohibited from congregating on the playing surface before, during, and after the event.
  • There will be no game day programs or printed stat sheets provided during the event.
Streaming & Live Stats University of Mary Campus Guidelines and Protocols
  • Visiting Spectators are asked to abide by the University of Mary campus social distancing rules, which can be found at www.umary.edu/COVID.
     
NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH GAMES, FANS AND ATTENDANCE GUIDANCE
 
 North Dakota's Smart Restart plan delineates risk at either a state or a county level. Event attendance and facility occupancy should follow Smart Restart guidance. Event planners should follow the guidance for large gatherings from the Smart Restart plan. Staggering rows for seating and otherwise marking areas where fans can sit can help reduce crowding and maintain physical distancing. Efforts should be made to carefully control entrance and egress to and from facilities to avoid crowding. Social distancing applies to outdoor events as well. Attendees should be told to stay home if they have any symptoms of COVID-19 and encouraged to wear masks, practice physical distancing, use good respiratory etiquette and practice good hygiene. Ventilation in the arena or gymnasium should be adjusted to allow for high rates of air exchanges, bringing in more fresh air from the outside. Foodservice at games should comply with restaurant and universal standard protocols.
 
NORTH DAKOTA SMART RESTART – LARGE GATHERING PROTOCOLS
 
Red/Critical Risk Level — Only essential workers as defined by the United States Department of Homeland Security and essential travel are open.
 
Orange/High Risk Level - Limit occupancy to 25% certificate of rate room capacity but no more than 100 people in a confined space (indoor or outdoor). The occupancy capacity at McDowell Activities Center is at 1,300 seated people. Because of the occupancy capacity of the MAC, our event is considered a Tier Three according to the North Dakota Smart Restart guidance and procedures.
 
Tier Three Events: Public Assembly must meet the following criteria for Large Gatherings
  • For seated events, has a seating capacity of 1,001 to 2,000.
  • Has a professional grade HVAC system with robust air exchanging capabilities.
  • Has professional venue staff dedicated to the facility.
  • Has a COVID-19 Preparedness and Safety Plan.
  • Requires use of face coverings and social distancing is always maintained.
  • Food and Drink – concessions or alcohol sales are not recommended open under the Orange/High Risk Level because it would limit proper use of face coverings.
  • School and Collegiate Activities and Sporting Events; Recreational and Club Sports, and Semi-Pro/Pro sports follow Large Gatherings protocols for spectators/audience only (excluding athletes, coaches, athletic staffing and credentialled event staff).
 
Yellow/Moderate Risk Level - Limit occupancy to 50% certificate of rate room capacity but no more than 100 people in a confined space (indoor or outdoor).
 
Green/Low Risk Level - Limit occupancy to 75% certificate of rate room capacity but no more than 200 people in a confined space (indoor or outdoor).
 
Blue/New Normal - Large groups allowed such as festivals and sporting events. Mass gatherings are permitted when following proper safety guidelines and procedures. Normal occupancy and activities can resume with heightened cleaning, standard precautions, and awareness of health guidelines.

 
UNIVERSITY OF MARY MEDIA PREGAME AND GAME DAY POLICIES

Pregame Media Coverage
All interview/media availability requests must be submitted to University of Mary Sports Information Director Brian Larson (bslarson@umary.edu | (o) 701-355-8354 | (m) 701-361-7904) in advance for pre-approval, no matter whether interviews are in-person or distance/electronic

When interviews are approved, SID will contact media member, subject, and/or appropriate head coach and provide guidance on interview ground rules

In-person Interviews | Media member and interview subject agree to
  • Remain Socially Distanced (remain minimum 6 ft apart)
  • Mask usage – the interviewee is allowed to remove their masks if socially distanced and in a low-traffic area. In a high-traffic area, both the interviewer and interviewee must remain masked even if socially distanced from one another
  • Stationary microphones must be used (on stand, set on table, etc.) and not touched by the interview subject (i.e. no handheld mics, nothing clipped to interview subject, etc.)
  • Interviews should be held in a more open space (examples: foyer or meeting room in the Fieldhouse, court of the McDowell Activity Center)
Gameday Media Coverage
  1. Media will be allowed to cover contests with preapproval from University of Mary Sports Information Director Brian Larson (bslarson@umary.edu | (o) 701-355-8354 | (m) 701-361-7904)
  2. Per the Northern Sun, there shall be no in person media contact prior to or following contests with scholar-athletes, coaches, or administrators from either team
  3. Members of the media are classified as Tier 3 personnel and not allowed to have contact with Tier 1 persons (scholar-athletes, coaching staff, training staff, game officials) on game days
  4. Media members are only allowed access to the McDowell Activity Center through the northwest main door via the Lumen Vitae University Center. Media will be allowed in the building no more than 90 minutes prior to game time.  
  5. Social distancing should be practiced on press row
  6. Do not share in game equipment, microphones or headsets
  7. MASKS WILL BE WORN AT ALL TIMES WHEN INSIDE UNIVERSITY OF MARY FACILITIES.
    • Radio/webcast announcers can only go without a mask or shield if they are announcing in an isolated area with proper spacing and shielding in place
  8. Individuals not serving in a SID/media capacity are prohibited from entering the media section
  9. Radio
    • Space will be provided for home and visiting radio above the west side bleachers along the standing rail
    • Ethernet connection is available for home radio and one visiting radio entity (no telephone lines available)
  10. Print Media
    • Space will be provided if available above the west bleachers on the standing rail 
  11. Television / Photography
    • Due to a required 12' buffer area required between the playing floor and Tier 3 media members, videographers and photographers ARE NOT allowed to operate along the baseline and must shoot from atop the west bleachers or from the bleacher edges in student section and at least three rows or further back from the court in areas away from fans, provided social distancing remains (NOTE: when games become open to public media will be allowed back on court).
  12. UMary Video Webstream
    • Will be produced from midcourt on west side of MAC above stands behind the standing rail
  13. Pregame and Postgame interviews must be conducted via phone or through Zoom/Facetime/Teams/etc. Please provide requests for any interviews to UMary SID Brian Larson or Asst. SID Chris Cody. 
  14. Hard copies of game statistics will no longer be provided to media, coaches, etc. Live in-game statistics are available on www.goumary.com/coverage. PDFs of postgame statistics can be emailed to media and coaches. If requested to UMary SID Brian Larson (bslarson@umary.edu), game stats will also be emailed at halftime.
  15. Game programs are available online in a digital format. Visit www.goumary.com for a link or look for the QR codes posted at the game facility
 
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