Safety Protocols Of NCAA Basketball Championships At Ford Center

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Reopen Evansville Task Force & Evansville Sports Corporation Announce Health and Safety Protocols Ahead of Basketball Championships

Evansville, IN – The state of Indiana will soon be the center of college basketball and the action begins in Evansville.

The first automatic bid to the NCAA tournament will be awarded at the Ford Center, as the Ohio Valley Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship will be held March 3-6. Later in the month, the Division II Midwest Regional will be played March 13-16 and the Division II Elite Eight & National Championship on March 24-27 in downtown Evansville.

“Our community is proud to host the OVC & Division II Basketball Championships and looks forward to welcoming the teams, student-athletes and fans,” said Steve Schaefer, Deputy Mayor & Chair of the Reopen Evansville Task Force. “As we continue to reopen and host major sporting events in Evansville, safety remains our top priority.”

In preparation for the basketball tournaments, the Reopen Evansville Task Force convened with medical professionals and key stakeholders to develop a COVID-19 safety plan of action for the events. Players and coaching staffs will be tested prior to arriving to Evansville. Through a partnership with Deaconess Hospital, participants in the OVC tournament will also be tested prior to each game of the tournament.

“We want to ensure participating fans, coaches and student athletes are healthy throughout this event,” said Schaefer, who also serves as the Chairman of the Evansville Sports Corp. Board. “Following months of meetings between the Task Force, Evansville Sports Corporation, Vanderburgh County Health Department (VCHD) and medical professionals from both Deaconess Hospital and Ascension St. Vincent, these protocols were developed to keep the tournaments on track at the Ford Center in Downtown Evansville.”

In addition to testing, a number of additional COVID-19 health and safety protocols will be in place, including;

  • Temperature check at entrance
  • Masks/face coverings
  • Limited concessions
  • Hand sanitizing stations
  • Enhanced cleaning and sanitation processes
  • Security officers and ushers
  • Informational Signage;

Fans attending this year’s event will be temperature screened upon entering the Ford Center and will be required to where a face covering/mask at all times. Spectator seating for the events will be limited to 2,500 fans and will be divided into socially-distanced pods. Pods will be spaced by the CDC prescribed safety distance of at least six (6) feet apart from other seating pods. This buffer is comprised of the row in front and behind the group being left vacant as well as a minimum of three seats on either side of the pod. All aisle way seats will be left vacant in order to maintain a buffer from patrons as they move to their assigned seating locations. All spectator seats will be sanitized before use and there will be increased sanitization performed in all commons areas.

Participating teams are also required to follow all COVID-19 protocols set forth by the Ford Center and the hotel properties.

“COVID-19 has had a huge impact on our organization and the industry as a whole,” said Evansville Sports Corp. Executive Director Eric Marvin. “As we continue to reopen and host major sporting events in Evansville, safety remains our top priority. Thanks to guidance from VCHD and local medical professionals, 2021 should be a record setting year.”

Tickets must be purchased in socially-distanced seating pods of two or four. Fans can purchase single-session tickets through ticketmaster.com or at the Ford Center ticket office.

ATTACHED BELOW IS THE LINK OF THE 2021 OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE   BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULED AT THE FORD CENTER

Combined_2021_OVC_Basketball_Championship_Brackets

SINCERELY

Steve Schaefer
Deputy Mayor, City of Evansville

 

 

 

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