MADISON, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS) — University of Wisconsin football games may not be held this fall. On Monday several reports said the Big 10 Conference will announce it is postponing the fall sports season.
Game days and game weekends in the fall usually bring crowds to Madison area businesses. Coronavirus related concerns are likely to prevent that from happening this year.
Lucas Simon-Wambach, general manager at Sconnie Bar, said they have been bracing for this news,” Simon-Wambach said.
“At this point now it isn't coming as a huge surprise for us, we knew that this may end up being. We were still holding out a little bit of hope, but we kind of had some plans in place being prepared, ready in case this was the route that they took.”
Normally summer is a slower season for Sconnie Bar, and they usually spend the time planning for a busy fall.
“Tons of people obviously on the game day, before, during and after the game, as well as the added business the day before and day after, that'll be a big change for us this fall,” Simon-Wambach said.
Fans on UW-Madison's campus Monday said they were sad to hear the news.
“It's a pretty big bummer,” said Jeremy Powell, a Madison resident. “I know a lot of my old friends normally like to watch the badger and the packers and all of that, it's a bummer.”
Some Badger football players expressed displeasure on social media about the season's postponement.
Senior safety Eric Burrell Tweeted “NCAA please don't do this to us,” on Sunday along with “#IwantToPlay.”
Senior offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen Tweeted “I'm in disbelief this might be how it ends,” on Monday along with “#WeWantToPlay.”
A few weeks back UW-Madison athletic director Barry Alvarez said in a press release that the Athletic Department stands to lost $100 million without a regular fall sports season.