UPDATE (3/8): Included information about football games

UPDATE (3/4): Volleyball attendance has been updated to allow for 75 total spectators including 25 students and faculty/staff. Lacrosse has been updated to allow 250 with students and faculty/staff permitted.

HICKORY, N.C. – In accordance with current local, state and federal health guidelines, Lenoir-Rhyne Athletics has announced its attendance policy for upcoming home athletic events. This fan policy will go into effect on February 20. As previously announced, no fans or parents from visiting teams will be permitted at LR home events this spring.

For spring football games, Lenoir-Rhyne will welcome a maximum capacity of 1,200 fans into Moretz Stadium for its two scheduled regular season games this spring. The Bears host Barton at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 20, and Catawba at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 10. Bears Club seating will be designated on the home side bleachers for members who give at a level to receive season tickets. The remaining seating throughout Moretz Stadium will be designated for students, faculty and staff along with parents and family members of the Lenoir-Rhyne football program. Due to the limited capacity, no general admission tickets will be sold and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The seating capacity takes into consideration the ability for spectators to safely social distance while watching the game. Gates will open 60 minutes prior to kick-off. The Bears Club gold lot will also open sixty minutes prior to game time for members who receive gold level parking benefits contingent on field conditions due to inclement weather.  No tailgating will be allowed on campus and no food will be permitted inside of Moretz Stadium. There will be no concessions available. Spectators will be required to follow all COVID safety protocols, including wearing a mask and social distancing. All fans will be required to go through a health screening and temperature check when entering the stadium.

 
For men's and women's lacrosse, spectators will be limited to 250 at Moretz Stadium. Student-athletes will be allowed two guests each, and a limited number of students and faculty and staff will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis until the capacity of 250 spectators is reached.
 
For men's and women's soccer and track and field, spectators will be limited to 100 at the Moretz Sports Athletic Complex. Student-athletes will be allowed two guests each, and a limited number of students will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis until the capacity of 100 spectators is reached.
 
For baseball, spectators will be limited to 100 at Durham Field. Student-athletes will be allowed two guests each, and a limited number of students will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis until the capacity of 100 spectators is reached.  
 
For softball, spectators will be limited to 75 at Bears Field. Student-athletes will be allowed two guests each, and a limited number of students will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis until the capacity of 75 spectators is reached.
 
For volleyball, spectators will be limited to 75 at Shuford Gymnasium. Student-athletes will be allowed two guests each and the remaining tickets will be reserved for students and faculty and staff.
 
For men's and women's tennis, spectators will be limited to 25 at the YMCA at Catawba Valley. Student-athletes will be allowed two guests each. There will be no general student admission at this time. 
 
An announcement about fans at home football games will be made in early March so continue to visit lrbears.com for updates. 
 
Spectators will be required to follow all COVID Safety protocols including wearing a mask and social distancing. All spectators will be required to go through a health screening upon arrival. No concessions will be offered and no food will be permitted within the venue. Gates will open thirty minutes prior to the start of the event.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne will continue to stream as many home events as possibly on the Lenoir-Rhyne Sports Network. All home broadcasts can be found at lrbears.com/watch or on Roku on the SAC Live app.
 
The Lenoir-Rhyne administration will continue to monitor the guidelines set forth by governmental agencies in the coming weeks and months. Any decisions about future attendance policy changes will be based on the health and well-being of student-athletes, coaches, spectators and the greater Hickory community.