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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a new proclamation today that will permit fans to attend outdoor professional sports games starting Friday, the Texas Tribune reports.
<p>Capacity must be kept to 25%, and the revised rule does not apply to indoor games, nor to high school and college sports.</p>
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UT athletics ‘fully optimistic’ about football this fall, but games—and campus—will look different
13 May
(Austonia staff)
Chris Del Conte, the always-upbeat University of Texas athletics director, is confident there will be Longhorn football this fall.
"I'm fully optimistic," Del Conte said Tuesday in an interview with Austonia. "There will be football at DKR [Memorial Stadium] this fall."
<p>But as of mid-May, the UT AD has no firm answers on what sort of impact the ongoing coronavirus pandemic will have in September. UT's season opener against South Florida, Sept. 5, still is on the calendar.</p><p>All Del Conte can do is plan for every scenario, whether that means robust business-as-usual for an athletic program that generated nearly $224 million in revenue last fiscal year; playing a modified schedule with or without fans in the stands; or a doomsday fall without football, the sport that pays most of the bills.</p><p>Del Conte said he has four committees working on issues relating to the athletes, staff, the games and game management when or if they're played. If football happens, chances are other fall sports—mainly women's volleyball and soccer—also will receive the go-ahead.</p><p>On March 12, the NCAA canceled all college sports competitions for the spring. Individual leagues, like the Big 12 and Southeastern conferences, then told schools that football teams couldn't conduct the traditional 15-session spring workouts that usually end with a giant scrimmage. The leagues also dictated how much interaction coaches could have with athletes, most of whom moved home after campuses closed. The restrictions will be reassessed by May 31.</p><p>As parts of the country are starting to reopen, so, too, is the sports world, with professional baseball, golf and basketball moving toward limited reopening.</p><p>So what about college football, which is celebrated across the state? There already are some parameters being set.</p><p>NCAA president Mark Emmert said last week he doesn't think football will be played at schools if campuses aren't open this fall.</p><p>"All of the commissioners and every president that I've talked to is in clear agreement," Emmert said in an interview posted on the NCAA's Twitter account. "If you don't have students on campus, you don't have student-athletes on campus. That doesn't mean it has to be up and running in the full normal model, but you've got to treat the health and well-being of the athletes at least as much as the regular students. So if a school doesn't reopen, then they're not going to be playing sports. It's really that simple."<br/></p><p>Del Conte said UT will be open this fall.</p><p>Texas A&M chancellor John Sharp<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/30/texas-am-tech-universities-reopen-fall-football/" target="_blank"> told the Texas Tribune last week</a> that Aggie students will be able to return to campus for fall classes—and football. Baylor and Texas Tech also are planning on reopening.</p><p><span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;">Coaches have indicated that in order to play football in the fall, the teams would need about six weeks of practice time. There would be about two weeks of orientation, or what the team missed in spring practices. The remaining time would be considered preseason training camp.</span></p><p>That means if the season is to start on time, players would have to be allowed back by mid-July.</p><p>Meanwhile, athletic directors are working on social-distancing plans for the games.</p><p>Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork, in a teleconference last week, said he's working on the following questions:</p><p>"How do we make people feel comfortable? What does social distancing look like, you know, come the fall? What are all the best practices and protocols that are out there? All those things are on the table, and we're constantly going through them, and again, these things are all fluid. The good thing is we do have time to make those decisions."</p><p>Del Conte said any plans are fluid, depending on how well the virus is controlled. But in mid-May, there is the luxury of time.</p><p>"We're not making any rash decisions at the University of Texas," Del Conte said. "We have an optimistic view, we'll be here in the fall."</p>
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(Austin FC)
Jeremiah Bentley is planning to purchase season tickets for Austin FC, the soccer team that will be the city's first major league sports franchise, despite the uncertainty that comes with a pandemic.
Bentley is a member of Austin Anthem, the team's official supporters group, whose members have access to a designated section in McKalla Place, the $260 million stadium under construction in North Austin.
<p>The stadium <a href="https://www.statesman.com/sports/20200204/rising-stadium-signals-that-austin-fc-mls-are-on-their-way" target="_blank"><u>went vertical</u></a> in early February and work has continued, thanks to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's March 31 executive order deeming construction an essential service. It is expected to open early next year, ahead of Austin FC's inaugural season, which is still expected to begin in the spring.</p><p><br/></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzI3MTI0My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5ODMzMzAxMn0.YVy8nnBPFGv9AOHGTJj7CKbunzxjwrmvfQdjndMCb1g/img.jpg?width=980" id="6442a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="cc0ea045a1ae58e7dc7355c287df268f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Austin FC stadium" />
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">McKalla Place, the $240 million stadium under construction in North Austin</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(Austonia staff)</small></p><p><br/></p><p>"I've got my supporters-section deposit in, and I'm planning on buying three [sets of tickets], for me and my two sons," Bentley said.<br/></p><p>Amid the havoc wreaked by the pandemic, some Austinites have found a bright spot in Austin FC. A poll of Austonia readers found nearly 70% believe the team's debut will continue as planned, and meanwhile future fans are making pilgrimages to the McKalla work site to see its progress.</p><p><br/></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
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<iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1256007640859267073" id="twitter-embed-1256007640859267073" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1256007640859267073&created_ts=1588290531.0&screen_name=donjuaustin&text=Beautiful+afternoon+to+ride+and+wonder+around.+Decided+to+check+out+this+beauty+up+close.+Looks+amazing%21%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F5HyTfOC8MX&id=1256007640859267073&name=Juan+Morinelli" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="9598a00319e8003702aba830b69096c7"></iframe>
</p><p><br/></p><p>"The club's fortunate—where we are in terms of timing—because you're still building the framework, you're still building the outside, so it's really easy to be able to do that socially distanced and safely," Bentley said. </p><p>Austin FC has not provided formal updates since mid-March, but its president, Andy Loughnane, <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/01/16/austin-fc-ticket-sales-moving-incredible-pace-says-club-president-andy-loughnane" target="_blank"><u>reported to MLS</u></a> that ticket sales were strong earlier this year.</p><p>When the team opened ticket sales to the public last June, it broke a league record for most deposits made in the first 24 hours: 30,000. Since then, sales have surpassed 40,000 deposits and the stadium's most expensive products—suites, field club and loges—have sold out entirely. </p><p>Ticket prices have not been announced, but local Austin FC blog Capital City Soccer <a href="https://capitalcitysoccer.com/2019/12/12/season-tickets-for-mls-clubs/" target="_blank"><u>compared prices</u></a> from the league's newest clubs: FC Cincinnati, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Inter MIami CF and Nashville SC. Among those teams, supporters' season tickets went for $180-$425, with the high-end seats ranging from $1,400 to $4,100. </p><p>"It does not seem like interest has slowed down," Bentley said of what he's heard from other Anthem members. "I'm sure that there are individual people who are going to be affected by [the pandemic] that have to make changes because of their budget, but it doesn't seem to have had a significant effect on people's appetite for tickets."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzI3MTA3Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5ODMyMDkzNX0.0UpChM9_ue7yr_SXsjYog_fFU_cs-4ej2vG86h_QIM8/img.jpg?width=980" target="_blank"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzI3MTA3Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5ODMyMDkzNX0.0UpChM9_ue7yr_SXsjYog_fFU_cs-4ej2vG86h_QIM8/img.jpg?width=980" id="0858a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="93faf44d1a7326cde141c4204134cb17" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Austin FC aerial" /></a>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">The stadium <a href="https://www.statesman.com/sports/20200204/rising-stadium-signals-that-austin-fc-mls-are-on-their-way" target="_blank">went vertical</a> in early February.</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
(Austonia staff)</small>
</p><p><br/></p><p>The next batch of tickets that will be made available to deposit holders are more affordable. The team has committed to selling 70% of stadium season tickets for $48 or less in an effort to make the games accessible for the wider Austin community, and supporter tickets are expected to be even less. </p><p>In the meantime, both Austin FC and Austin Anthem are planning for the year ahead. </p><p>Sporting Director Claudio Reyna <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/12/04/claudio-reyna-austin-fc-could-add-first-player-early-next-transfer-window" target="_blank"><u>said at a January press conference</u></a> that the team would likely sign its first players this summer, though this is a process that may be delayed by the pandemic for leagues around the world. </p><p>Austin Anthem has paused its in-person events for the time being. But Bentley is optimistic. "It's been a good change to plan and develop a strategy about how to grow [the group] out because it has been going nonstop with things ever since the club got announced [in 2019]," he said. "So a little pause is not the worst thing in the world."<br/></p><p>Anthem has around 2,000 members on its email list—but has room to grow. There are over 3,000 seats in the supporter section at McKalla Place. "We need to double in size between now and a year from now," Bentley said. </p><p><em>Correction: This story has been updated with the correct value for the stadium. The original version said it was $240 million; it is $260 million. </em><br/></p>
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(Starting Strength Austin)
Earlier this week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced gyms and fitness studios can open at 25% capacity starting May 18—just over two months after local stay-home orders required them to close. They'll join a growing list of businesses—including restaurants, malls, movie theaters, barbershops and tanning salons—that have received the green light from the state amid the coronavirus pandemic.
<p>But like <a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/austin-restaurants-reopen-25" target="_self"><u>restaurateurs</u></a> and <a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/salons-reopen-austin-2645954011" target="_blank">hair salon owners</a><a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/salons-reopen-austin-2645954011" target="_blank"></a>, personal trainers and yoga teachers are responding at their own pace—with some planning to reopen as soon as they're allowed to, and others waiting for more information from health officials and clients. </p><p>Starting Strength Austin, a franchise location on West Anderson Lane, is reopening May 18, and coach Jarrod Schaefer said he expects it to be close to full—within capacity limits. "We always wanted to open as soon as we could do so without getting into any trouble," he said.</p><p>For Schaefer, strength training is essential to health and wellbeing, and he feels a responsibility toward his members to get back to work. "We think that [reopening] will make the situation that they're in, because of the pandemic, a lot better for them," he said. </p><p>Each Starting Strength member will get their own 11-foot-wide training area and bag of chalk, and equipment will be disinfected between uses. Typically, the gym is restricted to 12 members at a time; when it reopens, that number will go down to eight. While some members have wanted to have long conversations with Schaefer about safety protocols, others have already scheduled sessions. </p><p>Matt Ryan, a personal trainer and owner of Heavy Mettle Fitness, is hearing similar feedback from his clients. While some are more comfortable continuing with virtual sessions, about half are ready to resume meeting in person. "I will be training as long as the client feels comfortable," he said, adding that he plans to wear a mask when they are allowed to resume May 18.</p><p>Other fitness studios are waiting for more information before making a decision either way.</p><p>Caroline Caswell and Brandi Jo Perkins opened Earth Commons in East Austin on March 15 after months of preparation—and one day before local officials issued stay-home orders that required them to close. The apothecary offers private holistic consultations, workshops and space for yoga classes and other events.</p><div id="0953c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f3a0f765214686c6153aa0fa9a1d808a"><blockquote class="instagram-media"
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word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">Earth Commons on Instagram: “Listening to the Mediaeval Babes Salva Nos this morning at Earth Commons and reminiscing. The desire to open our doors grows stronger…”</a></p>
</div></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><p>While Caswell and Perkins are itching to reopen, they have not yet decided when they will do so and are looking to their community and like-minded businesses for guidance. </p><p>"We're just really trying to be cautious and thoughtful, especially as a business that is here to help people in their health," Perkins said. </p><p>Earth Commons was able to shift its retail business online, with good response, the owners said. But their vision in opening the business was to create a gathering space, and some planned classes—such as one on ayurvedic self-massage—require in-person attendance. </p><p>"We don't want to have a class if people are questioning, 'Is this safe or not?'" Caswell said.</p><p>Similarly, Wanderlust Yoga—which has locations downtown and at the Domain—is staying closed until "every available precaution" can be taken, instructor Zoe Welch said. "Our plan is slow and safe," she added. </p><p>In the meantime, the local business has raised more than $20,000 through GoFundMe to help staff and is offering classes and workshops online. "If anything, we've been getting requests to keep the online yoga for as long as we can—even once we deem it safe to open the doors," Welch said. </p><p>Earth Commons and Starting Strength have also been pushed to develop their online audience during this shutdown period. But Schaefer said it doesn't replace the core business, adding: "We can't stay closed forever." </p>
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Fanatics
McConaughey is offering his company at a UT football game for the "All In Challenge" (Fanatics)
Matthew McConaughey has signed onto the "All-In Challenge," he announced on Twitter yesterday, offering a "Texas Football Experience."
<p>Any amount between $10 and $100 will buy varying numbers of entries in the contest. The winner will get tickets to a UT football game and attend with McConaughey and friends.</p><p>The contest is run by <a href="https://www.fanatics.com" target="_blank">Fanatics</a>, a website that claims to offer "the world's largest collection of official sports apparel," and benefits five charities: Meals on Wheels, No Kid Hungry, America's Food Fund, World Central Kitchen and Feeding America.</p><p><br/></p><p>
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