Clemson will allow fans into Memorial Stadium this fall, but the Tigers won't be playing in front of a packed Death Valley like they are accustomed to.
Clemson athletics announced on Thursday that its capacity will be 19,000 in 2020. The stadium typically holds 81,500.
Face coverings will be required unless fans are eating or drinking and fans will be seated in pods of two or four affiliated guests in socially-distanced pods. Each fan will have a designated gate of entry.
Clemson and IPTAY will reach out to donors who requested tickets for the 2020 season via email on Friday at 10 a.m. with more details on football ticket and parking availability, the school said in a release.
"Our IPTAY and athletic staff have worked tirelessly and taken a comprehensive look at the gameday experience," Clemson athletics director Dan Radakovich said. "With the information available today, we are confident in our ability to safely allow fans at games, which is incredibly important to our student-athletes, coaches, fans and local community."
Parking lots will open three hours prior to kickoff, but Clemson is asking fans not to tailgate during the 2020 season. Tents, trailers and large groups are prohibited.
Pregame traditions like the Tiger Band parade and Tiger Walk and postgame traditions like Gathering at the Paw will not take place in 2020.
Clemson had at least 80,000 fans at six of seven games in 2019, including three sellouts.
The Tigers will open the season at Wake Forest on Sept. 12, before hosting The Citadel on Sept. 19.
In addition to The Citadel, Clemson will host Virginia, Miami, Syracuse, Boston College and Pitt this fall.
"Clemson Athletic officials and IPTAY staff considered 10 different seating configurations for Memorial Stadium," the school said in a statement Thursday. "The proposed blended model provides both the opportunity for social distancing in the stands and the ability to include as many IPTAY donors and students as possible during the season. IPTAY donors will be assigned seating in order of giving level and priority points, with caps on the amount of tickets available to each account."
In addition, capacity for volleyball in Jervey Gym will be 250 fans, and soccer matches at Riggs Field will host up to approximately 1,000 fans.
