LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After many questions, concerns, and conversations, college football returns to Kentucky this week.


What You Need To Know

  • Vince Tyra gives tour of Cardinal Stadium ahead of season opener

  • Capacity will be at 20 percent, and fans will likely all be season ticket holders

  • New rules in place, such as no tailgating

  • Football team will release weekly test results

Louisville Athletic Director Vince Tyra gave reporters a tour of Cardinal Stadium ahead of Saturday’s season opener. He says fans, at 20 percent capacity and likely all season ticket holders, will follow new rules aimed at avoiding COVID-19 spread, such as:

  • No tailgating in the parking lots;
  • Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff;
  • Temperature checks at gates;
  • Mandatory mask-wearing, except while eating; and
  • Security to keep patrons distanced in the concourse, even in bathrooms.

"If you’ve got a repeat offender who’s uneducated to the process or has been asleep for six months, unfortunately, they’re probably gonna leave," Tyra said while addressing reporters on the concourse of the empty stadium. "...Going to the grocery store, going to restaurants, all that’s been going on for six months has helped educate everybody up to this point. I think our city and state have done a good job educating people. And I think we’re not taking it for granted."

Signage has been placed on the floors and walls to remind fans to wear masks, sanitize, and distance from others.

As for the team, Tyra promised testing transparency with weekly results from the team. He says no game is promised in 2020.

"We’ve really gotta have fans partner with us for week one, or week two may not even happen."

For now, at least, the uniquely American tradition is back.