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Pa. sports teams ask to allow fans in the stands

Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette

Pa. sports teams ask to allow fans in the stands

Administration, however, declines to say which teams and schools submitted plans

HARRISBURG, Pa. — As Pennsylvania approached 100,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Friday, several professional, semi-professional, amateur and college sports teams have submitted plans to the Pennsylvania Department of Health to have fans in the stands, the state agency said Friday.

The Wolf administration declined to reveal which organizations, teams or colleges have submitted plans, or whether it has approved any. But it said it continues to discourage spectators or fans from attending games to prevent transmission of the coronavirus.

Professional and college sports remain subject to Pennsylvania’s state-ordered limit of fewer than 250 people on site for games and practices, effectively meaning that Steelers, Eagles, Pitt and Penn State football games and Pirates baseball games, among others, cannot have fans in the stands.

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But the Health Department said “a number” of teams had submitted plans to the agency under a provision of its health orders that allow them get approval to exceed that limit.

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A source told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Friday that the Pirates are in the process of putting together a presentation, and a Steelers spokesman said the team is “still in the process of communicating with the governor’s office.”

“We are working in concert with the Steelers and Heinz Field on continued communications with the governor’s office,” added a Pitt spokesman.

Riverhounds SC hosts its first regular season match Wednesday at Highmark Stadium. Fans won’t be in attendance for that contest, but the team is also communicating with state and local officials.

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“We're continuing to work closely with state and local government and health officials to determine our ability to accommodate fans for future home games. We're continuing to work within state guidelines,” a team spokesman said.

Penn State declined to say whether it had submitted a plan, according to the Associated Press. The athletic department said it’s working with various governing bodies on scenarios “for a possible return this fall consistent with physical distancing, mask wearing and other preventative safety steps.” Its statement continued: “While we are optimistic, it is too early to project, and any potential scenario would need to meet local and state public health guidance based on developing conditions for the virus in our community and elsewhere.”

Staff writers Jason Mackey, Brian Batko, John McGonigal and Andy Kostka contributed.

First Published: July 17, 2020, 5:13 p.m.

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