Headed to a college basketball game in North Carolina? Here are COVID-19 policies to know
If you’re headed to a college basketball game this season, you’ll need to keep in mind the team and venues’ COVID-19 policies before heading to the arena.
The rules vary by program, and some schools have recently updated their policies in light of the spread of the Omicron variant.
Here are the latest COVID-19 policies from Division-I college basketball teams in North Carolina and other Charlotte-area programs.
North Carolina
Masks are required when indoors at UNC athletics events, including at the Smith Center and Carmichael Arena, according to the school’s athletics department.
Vaccination is not required but “strongly encouraged,” the school says.
Duke
Masks are required when inside at Duke athletics events, including at Cameron Indoor.
Anyone going to basketball games must also show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative test result from within the last 72 hours. Rapid antigen testing is offered outside gates and costs $45, and one can enter a game if they get a negative test result.
NC State
Masks are required when inside at NC State athletics events, including at PNC Arena, according to the school’s athletics department.
Proof of vaccination or a negative test result are not required, arena officials explained.
Wake Forest
Masks are required indoors at Wake Forest athletics events for vaccinated fans and at all times for unvaccinated fans, according to the school’s athletics department. The school will also institute a proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative-test requirement for fans attending indoor athletic events.
“We are all working together to persevere through this recent surge in COVID cases, especially in consideration of the pressure faced by our healthcare system and workers,” said director of athletics John Currie, in statement.
A digital copy of your vaccine card is acceptable. Masks are required at Belk Arena.
UNC Wilmington
Masks are required at UNC Wilmington basketball games at Trask Coliseum, according to the university.
North Carolina A&T
Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative test result from within the last 72 hours is required for home games.
A digital copy of your vaccine care is acceptable.
North Carolina Central
Capacity at NC Central basketball games is currently capped at 60%, and the lower level of the arena is limited to players, coaches, staff and security, associate athletics director Kyle Serba told The Charlotte Observer in an email.
Masks are also required, he said, and concessions aren’t being sold.
UNC Asheville basketball
Masks are required at UNC Asheville basketball games at Kimmel Arena, the school’s athletics department said.
Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative test result within 72 hours is required for fans ages 12 and older.
Appalachian State
Masks are required at Appalachian State basketball games inside the Holmes Convocation Center, associate athletics director Joey Jones told The Charlotte Observer in an email.
All concession stands are cashless, he added.
UNC Charlotte
UNC Charlotte home athletics events, including basketball games, are currently closed to the general public, The Charlotte Observer previously reported
Western Carolina
Masks are required at Western Carolina basketball games at the Ramsey Center, according to the school’s athletics department.
East Carolina
Masks are required for everyone when indoors on ECU’s campus, including in Minges Coliseum, the school’s athletics department said in a statement.
Campbell
Campbell athletics events are “closed to all spectators” through Jan. 19, said the school’s website.
Gardner-Webb
Masks are required when indoors on Gardner-Webb’s campus in “public spaces where social distancing cannot be consistently maintained, such as inside Paul Porter Arena during men’s and women’s home basketball games,” athletics department spokesman Jordan Parry told The Charlotte Observer in an email.
Johnson C. Smith
Smith sporting events, including basketball games, are closed to spectators “until further notice,” the school’s athletics department announced.
This story may be updated.
This story was originally published January 6, 2022 at 6:21 PM.
