R
I called it 10 years ago, folks. Barta will kill tailgating at Iowa.
I literally laughed out loud when I read about Barta's presser today where he was claiming the UI athletic dept is well positioned and fully capable of managing any C-19 cases when athletes and staff start testing positive. Leaving factual examples of his past administrative incompetence aside, he hasn't even been able to fashion a reasonable, consistent policy for football season ticket holders! For the past 3 months the UI policy was if season ticket holders don't reup for the 2020 season because of C-19 they cannot be guaranteed their same seats they've had for years, in 2021. It's a stupid policy -- Iowa St. got it right -- but if I wanted to keep my seats for 2021 I had to buy 2020 season tickets. So, today, one day before the deadline to reup, at 10:30 am, reluctantly, I did. Then 45 min later I received an email from Barta (to all season tix holders, I assume), saying that if there is a reduction in seating for any game at Kinnick during the 2020 season, then I'm guaranteed 1st shot at my long-time seats in 2021, even if I DON'T buy 2020 season tickets. So, I called back the UI ticket office -- their ticket people were apparently not notified of the change in policy until well AFTER the email was sent out to probably thousands -- (great example of competent administration there!), but the ticket person confirmed the new policy so a couple hours after buying my tix I cancelled my tix purchase -- betting that Kinnick will not be at 100% this year for at least one game. It's still a bogus policy and they just should have adopted what Pollard did at ISU. But yea, I laughed out loud.
Yeah there's no playbook for any of this. Hard to criticize too much for anyone doing what they decide to do. No matter how drastic either way frankly. Heck if I know from where I live in the sticks of TN. I just want sports back selfishly. That's it.Idk, I thought it was excellent given that they are dealing with something they have never had to deal with before.
It feels like there has been a sea change the last few weeks on COVID. The attitude seems to be: inform everyone of the serious risks, and let folks make their own risk assessment and choices unless the hospital systems look to be over run.
IF that is the general thinking of decision-makers, then some people will come to games, some will come in masks and gloves, and some will choose not to take the risk at all.