The Trenton R-IX School District has announced a policy for attendance at sporting events for the fall 2020 season. As of Friday, August 21st, the plan remains to allow fall fans who wish to watch home athletic contests at Trenton High School. However, noting the concern that an outbreak of COVID-19 would cancel the seasons, R-IX officials have made a large amount of requirements for spectators in order to attend.
For Trenton High School football games at C.F. Russell Stadium, fans will be allowed to sit in the bleachers, but to practice social distancing, limited to every other row. Also, school officials say that any child not in high school must be accompanied by an adult to gain access to the stadium, and that child must remain with the adult throughout the game.
While there are plans to have a student section, the high school students seated there will be required to social distance. Fans are encouraged to see the west end zone area (scoreboard side) to use lawn chairs and social distance. Lawn chairs will be allowed in any grassy area outside of the track, but will not be allowed on the track itself.
For home softball and tennis games, bleacher seating will be limited to every other row, with fans encouraged to bring lawn chairs and sit around the tennis court and/or outfield of the facilities. For the purposes of softball, there will be an effort made to not have large groups of fans congregating behind home plate. The batting cages at the Ebbe Sports Complex will not be used as a play area for fans, and fans will not be allowed to sit inside the blocked off area near each dugout.
For home volleyball, all spectators, noting the greater risk of virus spread in an indoor environment, will be required to wear masks while in the school building. Bleachers will be limited to every other row to encourage social distancing.
Concession stands at all Trenton sporting events this fall will be limited to only pre-packaged items and bottled drinks. Lines will be social distanced, and no eating areas will be provided. Also, as a general rule at all Trenton sporting events, non-high school aged children must be accompanied by an adult and sit with them throughout the game. Trenton school officials have indicated concern about coronavirus spread from unsupervised children meandering through sporting events, as has been seen in the past.
Admission prices will be $4.00 for adults and $3.00 for students, with social citizens free of charge.
As a general warning, Trenton R-9 says that if the rules and recommendations are not followed, the district will be forced to move to the next phase in their plan, that would include limiting fan attendance. The goal remains to have each and every Trenton sports team start, and complete, their seasons, from the best efforts of the district and its fans.
