Similar to almost everything else in 2020, heading to the O'Connell Center to watch the men's and women's basketball teams take the hardwood this year won't have the same feel post-pandemic.
The University of Florida announced on Tuesday a number of new safety protocols and guidelines for attending basketball games this season, including a maximum capacity of 2,200 fans.
Signage will be put up in all high-traffic areas of the O’Connell Center to help encourage social distancing. All tickets will be mobile through the Florida Gators app to promote less contact between ticket takers and fans.
A larger number of hand sanitizer stations will be featured around the arena, and like at any other UF sporting event, masks and face coverings will be required to be worn at all times during the event unless you're eating or drinking.
To promote proper social distancing, tickets will only be available in pods of two and four. Single-game ticket information will be announced soon for men's basketball and student tickets will be available through a pre-registration process.
All of the rules and regulations fall in line with the procedures that have been taking place at UF volleyball games, except the seating capacity: Capacity was announced at 2,500 in October for volleyball matches.
These rules follow the guidelines of UF Health, the SEC Medical Guidance Task Force and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Contact Evan Lepak at elepak@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @EvanMPLepak.
Junior Keyontae Johnson at the Gators' home game against Arkansas last season. Florida will allow up to 2,200 fans into the O'Connell Center for basketball games this season.
