Iowa State University Changes Decision on Football

Just when we thought we'd get to see some football this season, Iowa State changes their mind.

The Director of Athletics at Iowa State University, Jamie Pollard, stated in a press release Monday that approximately 25,000 fans were expected at the first game against Louisiana on September 12. Despite the hopefulness and mitigation efforts in place, it appears that those seats will instead be empty. The university has changed their minds when it comes to allowing fans in the stadium.

In a press release Wednesday, Pollard explained that the athletics department worked closely with Dr. Wintersteen and her team to develop plans for the fall football season. Although approval was given on those plans, allowing fans who purchased season tickets to attend the first game, Wintersteen decided to reverse the decision after weighing feedback received from the community. This reversal means that the Cyclones will play the season opener without fans.

Although it is disappointing there won’t be fans at the opener, our institution’s leadership team is still committed to having spectators at future games, if it can done safely. Weighing how our campus community responds to the recent surge in positive COVID cases will be a significant factor as to whether we can have fans at future games. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and make a decision regarding fans for the Oklahoma game (Oct. 3) at a later date.”-Jamie Pollard, Iowa State University Athletics Director

Season ticket holders who were expecting to be in the stands can opt-out of their 2020 football season tickets by logging into their account HERE and following the opt-out instructions. Kick-off for the season opener is September 12 at 11 a.m. with television coverage provided by ESPN. Hopefully one day fans will pack the stands again, until then we'll just have to watch the fun on our television screens.