The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has modified its restrictions on the upcoming CHSAA State Football Championships at CSU-Pueblo's Thunderbowl and will permit up to 75 spectators per team during each game.
CHSAA announced Tuesday it received a letter from the state health department that stated the agency "has modified its position on spectators to allow a maximum of 75 spectators in the stands, per team, which is the limit of the outdoor seated events guidance provided in Public Health Order 20-36 COVID-19 Dial."
Originally, the state health department cited rising COVID-19 numbers in Pueblo County as the reason to not allow spectators to be admitted to next week's contests, limiting attendance to football teams, athletic staff, cheerleaders, band members, broadcast staff, and other essential personnel.
Now, individual schools will be able to distribute tickets for the seven championship games this weekend.
"Our qualifying teams, school communities and staff were anxious about receiving a favorable decision," stated CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green in a release. "We submitted our reconsideration request on Friday and have spent numerous days asking our stakeholders and media partners to be patient. We are a small piece of the puzzle within the many decisions being made by state officials in these challenging times.
The update will allow each team to have 75 people at the games with non-household groups maintaining six feet of distance, the groups will have to enter/exit in different areas and all must wear masks "without exception."
CSU-Pueblo's Thunderbowl will host of all seven championships played from Dec. 3-5.
