What to expect at Kyle Field as Texas A&M implements COVID-19 guidelines

Headed to Kyle Field next Saturday? Here’s everything you need to know about Texas A&M’s new stadium guidelines.

Lia Musgrave, TexAgs

Upon entry, tickets will be scanned digitally, with each guest holding their own ticket. Although fans are encouraged to leave bags at home, all visitors must adhere to the stadium’s clear bag policy. Kyle Field game day staff will wear gloves and use sticks to minimize contact while checking bags at the gate.

Lia Musgrave, TexAgs

Visitors can bring one clear, unopened plastic bottle of water (up to one gallon in size) into the stadium, as water fountain refill stations will be closed all season.

As expected, stadium capacity has been reduced to 25 percent. Fans will be required to adhere to the new socially distanced seating plan, and a limited ticket pull will take place for students each week.

Hand sanitizing stations have been installed at entrances, by escalators and in other areas around the stadium. Face coverings (over the nose and mouth) are mandatory for all staff and stadium visitors and can only be removed while eating or drinking in a stationary location. Fans who do not comply with the mask guideline may be asked to leave the stadium.

Lia Musgrave, TexAgs

Friendly reminders of CDC guidelines appear throughout the stadium, along with a looped announcement over the PA system. Social distancing markers have been placed on escalator railings, inside elevators and in the concession stand lines to help uphold state guidelines. Only four guests will be allowed in an elevator at a time in addition to the operator.

Lia Musgrave, TexAgs

In club areas, furniture has been spaced out to comply with social distancing guidelines, and air conditioning has been increased. The air will be turned over six times per hour, which equates to the circulation at medical facilities and complies with CDC recommendations. Plexiglass dividers have been installed in between each suite to keep groups of visitors separate from others.

Lia Musgrave, TexAgs

Other plexiglass dividers have been implemented at every point of sale — including concessions and merchandise. To minimize points of contact, all registers at Kyle Field will be cashless and feature outward-facing payment systems. Condiments for food purchases will be in individual packets.

Lia Musgrave, TexAgs

All bathroom doors will remain open when possible, and auto-flushers have been installed on toilets throughout the stadium.

Sidelines will be limited to essential personnel only. Each team will remain in a buffer zone, or “bubble,” designated by yellow markings on the ground. Every individual inside the designated team area will be tested by a third party before each game, per the SEC’s testing protocol. No fans or media will be allowed in the first row of the student section to preserve this buffer.

As far as the fan experience goes, things will be pretty quiet this season.

The Aggie Yell Leaders will not be allowed on the field and instead will stand on five platforms installed along the student section. These platforms will also be used for pregame and halftime presentations.

Lia Musgrave, TexAgs

For the Vanderbilt game, tailgating is prohibited, and Yell Practice will be held virtually. The Kyle Field Fan Zone will be for display purposes only, and there will be no March-In or Spirit Walk.

When the Aggies score, the Kyle Field cannon will fire on the video board to further minimize the number of on-field personnel. However, the Spirit of ’02 will remain in place for ceremonial purposes.

Per SEC regulations, the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band will be in attendance in the stands, but any on-field performances are prohibited. However, the unit will still showcase their weekly performance through pre-recorded shows that will be played on the video boards at halftime.

These procedures will be standardized for all Texas A&M athletic venues to familiarize fans with the process.

Texas A&M Athletics’ staff emphasized that their primary goal for Week One is simply to make it to game two. A “one game at a time” mentality and 100 percent visitor participation is what the operations staff believes is necessary to make Kyle Field as safe as possible and allow for the rest of the season to take place without interruption.