North Carolina Parents Push For Increased Spectator Capacity Limits As Practices Get Underway

CHARLOTTE, NC – There is a movement to increase the number of spectators allowed at high school sporting events in North Carolina.

A Change.org petition is circulating across the state urging Gov. Cooper to allow for more than 100 spectators at an event.

The growing petition happening as the first day of spring football practice gets underway.

“Just getting after it. A lot of excitement in the air and a lot of energy throughout practice. It was definitely a great practice and a great first day,” said Jalen Newman.

He is a senior defensive back at Weddington High school in Union County. He says players kept their distance and wore masks the entire time.

“At first it was a little difficult, but you get used to it along the way I’d say,” said Newman.

While the first game is still weeks away, parents are already making a push to be able to watch their children compete.

“I kind of felt like they have been the forgotten kids of this whole pandemic. A lot of things have been taken away from them” said Meagen O’Connell.

O’Connell is a parent of two Weddington High School athletes. Right now, only 100 spectators are allowed at high school sporting events.

“You’re looking at maybe not even one parent per kid being able to show up to a high school football game,” said O’Connell.

She started the petition, which has been shared across the state. She and others are drumming up support for the spectator numbers to be increased so all parents of players, band members and cheerleaders could be in attendance, spread out, wearing masks.

“We’re literally looking for anything above 100 people at this point,” said O’Connell.

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association commissioner Que Tucker responded to the petition saying in part.

“Until COVID-19 conditions across the state improve and the current guidance from the Governor and DHHS is relaxed, the NCHSAA cannot entertain changing these maximums.”

The Centers for Disease Control also noted in a recent report that games, practices and social events surrounding sports increase risk of viral spread.

The current state order expires on February 28th. The first football games are scheduled for February 26th. Governor Cooper has not said if he will make any capacity adjustments.