Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves bans tailgating, 25 percent capacity for football for 2020 season

Governor Tate Reeves in an afternoon press conference announced mandates for the upcoming college football season in Mississippi including a prohibition of tailgating, capacity limitations, and a mask mandate.

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium’s bowl seating will be limited to 25 percent capacity or approximately 16,000 fans, while the suite and club options will be governed by the existing restaurant mandates. Anyone entering the stadium will be required to wear a mask and wear it while walking around until they are seated at least six feet from others.

Reeves also announced no parties or tailgating on game days in what he called an “unpopular” decision. Clearly, he knows his constituents well but given the potluck nature of tailgating, the untold dozens of hands in and out of coolers, and the lack of general inhibitions in the Grove, it is most likely for the best.

The announcement came during the daily COVID-19 briefings from Reeves.

The start of Ole Miss football had been pushed back to September 26th by the Southeastern Conference, and the athletic department had already let season ticket holders know there would be no seat selection process this season.

Season ticket holders were made aware of three options for the upcoming season if capacity was limited including donating the sum to the athletic foundation, taking a credit for the 2021 season ticket year, or receiving a refund.

The mandate covers all of the college football teams in the state, and the timing comes only two weeks or so from the kickoff of Southern Mississippi’s season.

Stay locked here at Red Cup Rebellion as we continue to update the latest with COVID-19 and its impact on college football.