For more information on protocols for LSU Athletics events related to COVID-19, please visit www.LSUsports.net/gameplan.
Update: Sept. 9, 11:45 a.m. CT (LSU Athletics)
2020 Tiger Stadium Procedures & Guidelines
BATON ROUGE – In coordination with state public health officials, the Southeastern Conference and university officials, LSU Athletics today announced plans welcoming ticketed fans to Tiger Stadium for the 2020 football season. In order to accommodate fans and to comply with public health guidelines, LSU is implementing numerous changes to its gameday policies and Tiger Stadium will open the 2020 season with 25 percent capacity.
“This plan focuses on the health and safety of all those attending LSU football games, from the fans to the team to the workers,” said Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. “By reducing the capacity and taking a year off from tailgating, which puts LSU in line with other SEC schools, the plan allows for fans to be socially distanced in Death Valley. I encourage the Tiger faithful to adhere to these guidelines and to act responsibly, as there is still a lot of COVID in Louisiana. We will continue to monitor our case counts, test positivity rate and hospitalizations and make adjustments as necessary. While this season is undoubtedly starting out differently from a normal football season, with COVID keeping all of us from celebrating together, nothing can dim the support we have for our LSU Tigers.”
The health and safety of fans is the top priority in LSU Athletics’ planning and preparation for the 2020 football season in Tiger Stadium. Among numerous safety measures, fans will be required to wear face masks on campus and in Tiger Stadium, tailgating on campus will not be permitted and physical distancing will be mandatory.
A comprehensive and regularly updated list of all COVID-19 related changes and fan notifications can be found at www.LSUsports.net/covid. Fans can also receive updates with the new LSU Sports Mobile App.
LSU Athletics officials remind fans plans for 2020 are subject to change before and during the season along with changes to public-health guidelines related to the spread of COVID-19.
“By all of us doing a few things differently this season, we’re going to safely play football with fans in the stands and that’s exciting for everyone who loves LSU,” said LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward. “Doing this safely and smartly is our shared responsibility. It’s important for this community, our school and our student-athletes. We’re in this together and we are all excited to play football in Tiger Stadium with the greatest fans in America. I want to thank Gov. Edwards and his team for their strong support and guidance during this time.”
Update: Aug. 28, 3 p.m. CT (Southeastern Conference)
SEC Announces Additional Football Game Guidelines
The Southeastern Conference has announced a number of game operations guidelines for its 14 member schools, following up on its initial medical protocols and fan guidelines announced earlier this month, as the Conference continues to monitor developments around the COVID-19 virus.
Topics covered in these guidelines include Essential On-Field Personnel, Visiting Team Ticketing, On-Field Performances, Disinfection of Team Spaces, and Media Operations.
Update: Aug. 27, 1 p.m. CT (Southeastern Conference)
SEC Establishes Start Dates, Formats for Fall Sports’ Seasons
The Southeastern Conference has established new start dates and formats for the SEC cross country, soccer and volleyball seasons as well as the fall golf and tennis seasons, as the 14 members of the SEC continue to monitor developments related to COVID-19, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey announced Thursday.
SEC soccer and volleyball teams will participate in spring competition as well, with details of formats contingent on final decisions by the NCAA to conduct spring championships in those sports.
The SEC had previously announced in July that the sports of cross country, soccer and volleyball would be postponed through at least August 31.
In addition, fall practice activities and intra-squad games are permitted in the sports of baseball and softball, but exhibition games against outside competition is prohibited in the 2020 fall semester.
The SEC announced in July that student-athletes in all sports who elect to not participate in intercollegiate athletics during the fall 2020 academic semester because of health and/or safety concerns related to COVID-19 will continue to have their scholarships honored by their university and will remain in good standing with their team.
The SEC’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force continues to meet on policies and procedures for the safe return of student-athletes to competition, building on the NCAA’s Resocialization of College Sports Guidelines.
Update: Aug. 18, 9:05 a.m. (Southeastern Conference)
SEC Announces Fan Health and Safety Guidelines
The Southeastern Conference has announced guidelines for its 14 member schools to establish expectations to manage the health and safety of fans in preparation for the 2020 football season, pending future decisions related to the allowance of fans to attend games as the Conference continues to monitor developments around the COVID-19 virus.
Institutions may adopt additional procedures and protocols consistent with their specific needs and circumstances to help protect the health and safety of all in attendance.
Update: Aug. 7, 2:30 p.m. (Tiger Athletic Foundation)
LSU Athletics Announces ‘The Victory Fund’
LSU Athletics today announced The Victory Fund to facilitate donations to support critical areas of need for student-athletes during financial challenges related to the spread of COVID-19. The Fund, established by the Tiger Athletic Foundation, will offer donors unprecedented additional priority points for contributing to the tax-deductible fund.
For the first time in its history, LSU Athletics is offering 5x the additional priority points per $1,000 donated to season ticket holders who choose to opt out of their 2020 tickets and transfer their balance to the fund. Donors can also make any level of contribution directly on the Tiger Athletic Foundation website and will receive priority points at a rate of 5 points per $1,000, including fractional points.
Donations to The Victory Fund will help support critical areas of need for student-athletes including scholarships, healthcare, nutrition, academic support and COVID-19 related and overall operating expenses. Donations to the Victory Fund are eligible to receive TAF membership benefits at the coordinating level of annual giving. See the benefits of TAF membership.
Press Release | Scott Woodward Letter to TAF donors
Update: Aug. 7, 9 a.m. (Southeastern Conference)
SEC Announces Initial Medical Protocols for Fall Sports
The Southeastern Conference has announced its initial COVID-19 management requirements for the fall athletics season as recommended by the SEC’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force.
The Task Force has been meeting frequently since April to review and discuss information associated with the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on developing policies and protocols to guide membership decisions related to the healthy return of athletics activities, including team gatherings, practices, conditioning and competition, for SEC student-athletes and others associated with SEC athletics programs.
Update: July 30, 3:45 p.m. (Southeastern Conference)
SEC Announces 10-Game, League-Only Football Slate
The Southeastern Conference has established September 26 as the new kickoff for its 2020 football season to allow its universities to focus on the healthy return of their campus communities and the gradual re-introduction of athletics, as the 14 members of the SEC continue to monitor developments related to COVID-19, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey announced Thursday.
The 2020 SEC football season will be comprised of a 10-game Conference-only schedule and the SEC Football Championship Game will be played December 19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, rescheduled from the original date of December 5. The schedule will include one mid-season open date for each school and an open date on December 12 for all schools.
A revised schedule for the 2020 SEC football season will be announced at a later date following approval by the Conference’s athletics directors.
STATEMENT FROM LSU ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SCOTT WOODWARD ON SEC FOOTBALL SCHEDULE ANNOUNCEMENT
“Today is an exciting day for all of us who love college football in the SEC. The toughest conference in college football is going to battle it out in historic fashion. Tiger Stadium and our National Championship Football team will play host to five SEC opponents in a 10-game, all-SEC regular-season schedule.
As a conference we have been aligned in this process from the beginning and I want to thank Commissioner Sankey for his leadership during this unprecedented time. There is still a great deal of work to be done and many important decisions to be made, but this is a big step in the right direction for our conference, our school and our student-athletes.
Our top priority remains the safety and well-being of our student-athletes. We, as SEC member institutions, are continuing to engage in deliberate and informed discussions on planning for the safety of student-athletes, coaches and staff. We will continue to follow the guidance of medical professionals in our decision making, including the SEC’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force. Together, and with the direction of state public health officials, we are focused on a safe return to competition.”
Update: July 30, 11 a.m. CT (LSU Athletics)
LSU Athletics Venues Going Cashless in 2020
LSU Athletics announced all athletics facilities will accept only credit card and mobile payments for merchandise and concessions beginning in the fall of 2020. The move to cashless operations is designed to minimize points of contact for fans and improve speed of service. Fans at LSU athletic events will be able to purchase concessions and merchandise using one of four payment types: major credit cards, Apple Pay, Android Pay, Tiger Cash (concessions only).
For those fans that do not have one of the four payment types available, LSU is working toward a solution with a prepaid card purchase option.
Update: July, 29, 11 a.m. CT (LSU Athletics Ticket Office)
LSU Announces Mobile Ticketing for 2020 Football Season
On July 29, LSU Athletics announced all 2020 LSU Football tickets will be distributed through mobile delivery and accessed by ticketholders through digital wallets on smartphones. The move to mobile ticketing allows for faster delivery of tickets to fans, contactless transactions at gates and more flexibility for ticketholders.
Mobile tickets will be delivered to fans via email. With mobile tickets, fans will have new convenient options for accessing, transferring and reselling tickets from their smartphones through My Account 2.0, an enhanced online ticket account manager on LSUtix.net. My Account 2.0 will enhance the user experience for LSU football fans and provide a more intuitive self-service feature. Season ticket holders will be able to use their smartphone to view upcoming events, download tickets to their digital wallet, transfer tickets to multiple recipients via text message, and post tickets for resale on LSU Athletics’ Official Ticket Marketplace, StubHub.
There will be no physical season ticket books or paper tickets. Print-at-home tickets will also be discontinued. Ticketholders who do not have a smartphone will be able to request alternative options through an online assistance form. For those fans with additional questions or looking for more information on the digital tickets, the LSU Ticket office has also developed a detailed FAQ that can be found at LSUsports.net/mobiletickets.
Update: July 14, 2 p.m. CT (Southeastern Conference)
Competition Postponed Through at Least August 31
The Southeastern Conference announced that it will postpone the start of volleyball, soccer and cross country competition through at least August 31. The decision will provide additional time to prepare for the safe return of competition on an adjusted timeline. The delay in competition includes all exhibition and non-conference games.
LSU Athletics Director Scott Woodward said the decision does not directly impact plans for the fall football schedule, though all scenarios are being discussed.
SEC institutions will continue to follow the guidance of the Conference’s Return to Activity and Medical Advisory Task Force and the NCAA’s Resocialization of College Sports Guidelines as student-athletes are engaged in preseason preparation for a return to competition. Any rescheduling of non-conference contests impacted by the postponed start of the fall seasons in volleyball, soccer and cross country will be determined by each school. The SEC continues to monitor developments related to COVID-19 as it evaluates the potential impact on fall schedules in all sports, with the understanding that the primary responsibility of the SEC and its institutions is to ensure the health and well-being of its student-athletes.
Update: March 22 (Office of the Louisiana Governor)
Stay At Home Order Through April 30
To further combat the spread of COVID-19 in Louisiana, Gov. Edwards issued a Stay at Home Order on March 22, directing all Louisiana residents to shelter at home and limit movements outside of their homes beyond essential needs.
Click here for the governor’s official order.
On April 2, Gov. Edwards extended his stay at home order until April 30. Click here to read the extended stay at home order
Click here for a list of essential infrastructure.
YOU CAN
- Go to the grocery, convenience or warehouse store
- Go to the pharmacy to pick up medications and other healthcare necessities
- Go to medical appointments (check with your doctor or provider first)
- Go to a restaurant for take-out, delivery or drive-thru
- Care for or support a friend or family member
- Take a walk, ride your bike, hike, jog and be in nature for exercise — just keep at least six feet between you and others.
- Walk your pets and take them to the veterinarian if necessary
- Help someone to get necessary supplies
- Receive deliveries from any business which delivers
YOU SHOULD NOT
- Go to work unless you are providing essential services as defined by this Order
- Visit friends and family if there is no urgent need
- Maintain less than 6 feet of distance from others when you go out
- Visit loved ones in the hospital, nursing home, skilled nursing facility or other residential care facility, except for limited exceptions as provided on the facility websites.
Full details: https://gov.louisiana.gov/home/
Update: March 17, 2 p.m. CT
SEC STATEMENT ON REMAINING 2020 COMPETITION
The Southeastern Conference today announced that all regular season conference and non-conference competitions are canceled for the remainder of the 2019-20 athletic year, including all remaining SEC championship events, due to continuing developments related to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
In addition, all spring football games are canceled and there will be no pro days conducted by SEC institutions.
“This is a difficult day for all of us, and I am especially disappointed for our student-athletes,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “The health and well-being of our entire conference community is an ongoing priority for the SEC as we continue to monitor developments and information about the COVID-19 virus.”
Other athletics activities, including team and individual practices, meetings and other organized gatherings, whether required or voluntary, remain suspended through at least April 15.
SEC member institutions will continue to provide their student-athletes with care and support to meet needs in areas including academics, medical care, mental health and wellness, nutrition and housing as needed.
The SEC and its member institutions will continue to communicate with public health officials and medical experts to determine the best path forward related to coronavirus pandemic.
SEC CHAMPIONSHIP TICKET REFUND INFORMATION
For the SEC Softball Tournament and the SEC Baseball Tournament, automatic full ticket refunds will be made by March 31 to fans who purchased tickets from the SEC Office or an SEC university.
Update: March 16, 1:30 p.m. CT
LSU Director of Athletics Scott Woodward spoke with the media Monday as the department responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To all LSU students:
Effective tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, most faculty and staff at LSU will begin working remotely for the foreseeable future. This is the safest and most prudent course of action given the information available on COVID-19.
— LSU (@LSU) March 16, 2020
Update: March 13, 3 p.m. CT
BATON ROUGE — In coordination with the Southeastern Conference, all member institutions, including LSU Athletics, will suspend both practice and competition for all sports through April 15. The decision comes in conjunction with preventative measures taken by the SEC, NCAA and campus officials in regard to the spread of COVID-19.
All sports will cease practices, individual and team workouts effective the end of the day Friday, March 13. Team meetings will conclude no later than 5 pm local time on Monday, March 16.
“There’s nothing more important than the health and well-being of our student-athletes, our staff and community,” said Athletic Director Scott Woodward. “This decision did not come lightly for anyone. This is an extraordinary measure, but a necessary one for the greater good.”
LSU has encouraged students living on campus to return home. Student-athletes who choose to remain at LSU will continue to receive the necessary daily services including food, medical care and housing. Student-athlete academic services and tutoring will continue to be facilitated through the Cox Communications Academic Center.
For accurate and timely updates from an official source please visit www.lsu.edu/coronavirus or one of LSU’s official social media sites.
Update: March 12, 11:30 a.m. CT
Based on the latest developments and the continued spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Southeastern Conference today announced the suspension of regular season competition for teams in all sports on SEC campuses, as well SEC championship events, until March 30.
This does not apply to teams and individuals in NCAA competition, at this time.
The SEC reminds everyone to be attentive to everyday preventive actions identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov).
Update: March 11, 8:16 p.m. CT
NASHVILLE – As announced by SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and by a vote of SEC University Presidents, LSU Athletics confirmed attendance at all LSU athletic events will be restricted to participating student-athletes, coaches, families, officials, essential personnel and credentialed media beginning March 12 through March 30, 2020.
“We put the safety and wellbeing of our students and entire LSU community first, and after consulting with other SEC presidents we decided the prudent thing to do is to have athletic contests without fans for the near term,” said Thomas Galligan, interim LSU president, adding that the purpose is to avoid large gatherings and minimize the risk of people getting sick.
The decision to restrict attendance at SEC venues was made in accordance with best practices and guidance from state, federal and public health officials regarding efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The policy will be evaluated after March 30.
“We stand strongly with Commissioner Sankey, President Galligan and our member schools on this decision,” said Athletic Director Scott Woodward. “There is nothing more important than the public health and the wellbeing of our fans and student-athletes. We are prepared to do all that we can to assist in this critical effort.”
The LSU Athletics Ticket Office will be in contact with impacted ticket holders for gymnastics, baseball and softball. LSU Athletics officials ask for patience as they work through this unprecedented situation with fans.
The attendance restrictions apply to all sports, ticketed and non-ticketed. Additionally, all SEC postseason play during the month of March has been similarly restricted, and the NCAA has also restricted access to winter championships including the NCAA Basketball Tournaments.
As this is a rapidly changing situation, LSU Athletics will continue to monitor developments and consult with University and health officials. LSU encourages fans, student-athletes and families to check LSUSports.net and official social media channels for continuing updates as the situation evolves.
For the latest information on the virus, on travel advisories, and for any updates for the LSU campus community, please visit www.lsu.edu/coronavirus and follow LSU’s official social media channels. There are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at LSU.