As the delta variant of the coronavirus continues to surge across the United States, the question of how universities will handle crowds at sporting events this fall has arisen.
On Friday evening, both the University of Oregon and Oregon State University of the Pac-12 Conference announced that all attendees at events (beside sporting events, that includes concerts and conferences) ages 12 and older must provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.
Earlier in the day, the University of Hawaii of the Mountain West Conference said no fans will be allowed at “season-opening events” but that the decision “will be re-evaluated in the coming weeks.”
The Hawaii football team’s home opener is Sept. 4 against Portland State (it begins the season Aug. 28 at UCLA). Oregon’s season opener is Sept. 4 at home against Fresno State. Oregon State’s season begins Sept. 4 on the road against Purdue, and its home opener is, coincidentally, Sept. 11 versus Hawaii.