Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced in a recent proclamation that spectators of outdoor sport games are allowed to watch the games, but only to an extent. This included enforcing social distancing rules, encouraging people to wear masks, and allowing spectators at limited occupancy, as was standard for the reopening of businesses in the state. Leagues need only apply to the Texas Department of State Health Services.


Sports complex and food courts to reopen

Abbott released his most recent announcement almost a week after he promised Texas would start college football season on time, but only at reduced capacity. This announcement followed the toll of the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state swelled to 57,921 according to the Department of State Health Services. The health agency issued protocols for adult participants of the recreational sports to include encouragement of keeping face masks on during events and practices, screening fans and players alike for symptoms of the coronavirus, and recommending people to bring hand sanitizing products and wet napkins.

Fans are then discouraged from coming in groups larger than ten people and asked to maintain a distance of six feet from others while protecting themselves with masks. The governor announced on Tuesday that he would allow food courts in shopping centers to reopen their businesses as soon as possible.


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Abbott lets outdoor sports commence games by May 31

Last Friday the governor first made the announcement about resuming operations so that college football season would begin on time and at reduced capacity while Texas reopened at a gradual pace.

In the interview, he admitted there were remaining factors that would limit the games to allow guests in a certain capacity, such as the availability of medical treatment for COVID-19 and the status of the pandemic in the state. He said that he would mobilize analysts to look into these issues in July.

The first University of Texas game is scheduled for September 5 in Austin, and they are supposed to go against the University of South Florida. Abbott said that the university's athletics director must make a decision before the game starts so they would be able to make it to the timeline.

The governor did confess in an interview with KXAN-TV that he predicted the UT football game would proceed as scheduled, with spectators at the stands, hopefully. At this point, he initially allowed select professional sports events to resume operations in the state beginning May 31, although with the prohibition of fans. He soon revoked this statement by allowing fans to watch at reduced occupancy.

Almost two months prior, Chancellor John Sharp of Texas A&M University System declared to all university presidents that the schools were ready to commence with the games by fall. Texas Tech University followed suit. These games are basketball, baseball, car racing, football, golf, softball, and tennis.