Let more fans watch outdoor high school sports in person, NC lawmakers say
Three Republican state senators filed a bill Thursday to expand Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s limits on how many people can attend high school sporting events held outside.
Under Cooper’s current coronavirus executive orders, only 100 people can attend outdoor high school sporting events.
Senate Bill 116, sponsored by Sens. Danny Britt, Vicki Sawyer and Todd Johnson, would let sporting facilities increase their capacity to 40%, rather than just 100 people.
In a news release, the senators said this would allow family members of athletes to watch their games in person.
One of the people behind the push for more fans at games was a Union County mother, Meagen O’Connell. O’Connell has a son and a daughter at Weddington High School. Her son plays football and baseball. Her daughter plays basketball and soccer.
O’Connell started a petition on Feb. 5 to try to urge Cooper to allow more fans at games. She’s done interviews across the state, including appearing on the Charlotte Observer’s Talking Preps show. The petition now has nearly 40,000 signatures.
Reached by phone Thursday, she said was thrilled with the effort in the legislature. She said she spoke with Johnson, one of the bill sponsors, last week after he had reached out to her by phone.
“I’m so happy and hopeful for families in North Carolina that our voices are being heard,” O’Connell said. “We’re not stopping until it passes, but I’m really proud to stand among so many families across the state. It’s been a total team effort and it’s been pretty awesome to see when everybody has one common theme, and that’s the love of their kids.”
Weddington High football coach Andy Capone, whose team has won two straight state championships, supports the bill.
“People will be concerned either way,” Capone said, “but I believe (additional fans in stands) can be done safely and these kids deserve to have their parents watch them play, whether it’s their freshman, junior, sophomore or senior year.”
The senators also sent a letter to Cooper asking him to amend his executive order so there would be no need for the bill.
In a news conference Thursday, Cooper said health officials would take a look at the issue. The current executive order expires at the end of the month.
“Hopefully we will see some changes in that area when we make the announcement on the new executive order next week,” Cooper said.
High schools making suggestions
A separate bill filed by senators would expand capacity to 50% for outdoor high school sporting events in seven counties — Anson, Iredell, Moore, Richmond, Scotland, Union and Yadkin. It is a local bill, which means it does not need the governor’s signature to become law.
Both bills say that if a facility doesn’t have an approved fire code capacity, facilities can allow up to seven people for every 1,000 square feet.
A third bill filed in the House would apply the same capacity changes to Union County.
Earlier this week, N.C. High School Athletic Association commissioner Que Tucker sent a memo to the state’s more than 400 public schools.
She said the NCHSAA would like more than 100 people in the stands, but added, “to be clear, we want that when it is safe and conducive to do so.”
Tucker said the NCHSAA had been invited to meet with the state Department of Health and Human Services to discuss capacity at outdoor events.
“The NCHSAA has been at the table with DHHS, when appropriate, to share our thoughts and make suggestions relative to amateur and youth sports guidelines,” she wrote. “We have weighed in on seating limitations, beginning with volleyball and basketball. Likewise, we have been invited to do so for outdoor venues as we approach the February end of this current executive order. Just maybe the numbers will change.”
The current capacity rules are so restrictive that the Wake County school system isn’t allowing fans from visiting teams at athletic events.
Richmond Senior High School football coach Bryan Till said the current rules force hard choices on coaches and staff.
“In soccer, say you have a 20-man team,” he said. “Each kid gets two tickets, and maybe you do that (and stay under 100). But with us, there’s so many more participants. It’s hard to get a kid one ticket if you’re taking care of cheerleaders and the band. That makes for some tough decision-making there.”
Till said at Richmond Senior, having additional fans can be done safely. Raider Stadium, he said, can seat 6,500 fans.
“We feel we can safely distance in Raider Stadium,” he said. “There’s enough room to do that. I’m all for (the bill) if it allows families to be the first priority. I think that’s going to be great. You have to remember that community is the most important thing about high school sports.”
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This story was originally published February 18, 2021 at 1:30 PM with the headline "Let more fans watch outdoor high school sports in person, NC lawmakers say."
