Jim Sterk remains optimistic ahead of Mizzou’s season opener

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)

Despite COVID-19, months ago MU Athletics announced that it will be allowing fans and students to attend football games at reduced capacity.

Since that announcement, officials said they have worked to put a plan together to keep game days at Faurot Field as safe as possible.

Mizzou Athletic Director Jim Sterk said it's a mix of emotions to finally get to the point they've all been waiting for.

"All of the work and preparation and trying to get to this point and questioning of what the SEC is doing," he said. "For a while there, we were seen as the big, bad guys having football, but now, we're actually one of the last coming on."

Mizzou said it is expecting about 11,700 people in attendance on Saturday versus Alabama.

There will be new guidelines in place for those more than 11,000 fans in attendance.

First, Mizzou fans will only be allowed to park in their designated lots three hours before kickoff.

Once in those lots, fans will not be allowed to tailgate or congregate in large groups.

"Obviously people will talk and families will be together," Sterk said. "We want it to be a safe environment, so where we can really dictate is no tents, no grills, those kinds of things where people then would gather."

MU Athletics is also requiring masks upon entry into Faurot Field, which can only be taken off when eating or drinking in the stadium.

Even entry into the stadium brings some changes.

"There are a number of different zones that everyone is being assigned for their tickets," the associate athletic director for events and facilities Tony Wirkus said. "It will be printed on the tickets and then a map will be printed on way-finding signage as you are leaving the parking lots, heading into the game."

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Each zone will include food, drink, and restroom access for fans.

"There's going to be identical concession menu, so the idea is that everyone has access to the exact, same amenities by staying in assigned area," Wirkus said.

Sterk added that the safest place to be in Faurot Field, will actually be on the field. He said the goal is to create a bubble of sorts.

"All of those folks that are on the field have been tested three times, that week alone," he said.

MU officials have also emphasized the importance of revenue that selling, even a limited amount of tickets, brings in.