Winston-Salem, NC – Wake Forest will start to welcome back a limited number of fans back to Truist Field starting on Friday, October 2 against Campbell.
Attendees will require physical distancing and mandatory face masks or facial coverings, with careful attention to safety protocol for concessions. Wake Forest will be transitioning to individual game tickets only for the 2020 and a more touchless environment with mobile ticketing.
With the seating plans for the upcoming season changing due to CDC guidelines, Wake Forest will offer current season ticket holders who wish to attend games the opportunity to obtain tickets on a game-by-game basis.
“Our staff is excited to safely host our student-athletes parents and families, students, and a limited number of fans for Friday’s game against Campbell at Truist Field,” Director of Athletics John Currie said. “Wake Forest Athletics has been in constant communication with Forsyth County and state health authorities to develop extensive plans that adhere to social distancing requirements and uphold the Show Humanitiate standard of our University.
“Our student-athletes, coaches and staff missed the passion and support of our Wake Forest community on Sept. 12,” Currie said.
“We are excited to play in front of Deacon Nation again, even if it is a limited capacity,” said Head Coach Dave Clawson. “College football fans and their passion for the game make this sport special. We can’t wait to feel that energy and support starting with our game against Campbell. I appreciate the guidance of our University leadership as well as Gov. Cooper and the state of North Carolina in welcoming back fans to Truist Field in a healthy and safe manner.”
Tickets Process for Home Games
The process for prioritization will take into account the following guiding principles:
- Safety of fans and student-athletes.
- Transparency of information and process.
- Flexibility through the Ticket Purchase Assurance Program.
- Prioritizing player families and Wake Forest students.
- Accommodating as many season ticket holders as possible.
- Fair and objective system of allocation based upon contracted seats, Deacon Club priority, and years of purchase.
Tickets will be distributed in seating clusters of two tickets, with only tickets purchased from one account included together. Ticket holders are required to sit in their reserved seats and may not interact with fans located in other seating clusters while in the seating bowl.
Ticket allocation process will be finalized and explained in a separate communication by Monday, September 28.
In order to further our health and safety guidelines for all home football games, Wake Forest Athletics will utilize digital tickets. This step will allow fans greater convenience, security, and control over their tickets while also minimizing counterfeiting and loss or theft of paper tickets.
The ticket office will also have more flexibility to adjust to changing social distancing guidelines while employing the safest, quickest, and most cost efficient way for fans to receive their tickets. Wake Forest 2020 football tickets, with the exception of suites and club seats in McCreary Tower, will now arrive via email with an embedded link to download and save tickets via their smartphone’s wallet. McCreary Tower suite and Flow Lexus club ticket holders will still receive their crickets and lanyards via tracked priority shipping.
In order to manage this new student ticketing process, Wake Forest is excited to introduce a dedicated student rewards program, Screamin’ Demon Rewards, which will reward the most Dedicated Deacs for their attendance at athletic and campus events.
Tickets will be allocated through this new platform via a weighted student ticket lottery, which will be operated on a game-to-game basis. In order to have access to the lottery, students must register for the new Screamin’ Demon Rewards program and download the dedicated app..
This process will provide flexibility to maximize the number of tickets available to students for each game as conditions and capacity limits change.
The number of entries each student will receive upon entering the lottery will be equal to the total number of points earned through Screamin’ Demon Rewards. To begin the season, students will receive bonus points based upon their classification as well as retroactive points for games attended at Truist Field during the 2019 season. This will provide initial weighted priority towards those who have historically attended more games.
After entering, students will have the opportunity to proceed in the lottery as individuals for individual socially-distanced seats, or link up into pairs for seat selection that would be seated together.
Entries for the Campbell lottery will begin being accepted on Monday, Sept. 28 at 8 a.m. More information, including FAQs and a full schedule for the student ticket lottery, is available at GoDeacs.com/rewards.
Face Covering
All attendees inside Truist Field this fall are required to wear an approved personal face covering at all times once they leave their vehicle.
Approved face coverings must:
- Be made with at least two layers of breathable material.
- Fully cover the nose and mouth and stay secure under the chin.
- Fit tight but comfortably against the side of the face.
- Be secured to allow the guest to not have to keep the covering in place with his/her hands.
Based on guidance from health officials, open-chin triangle bandanas and/or face coverings containing valves, neck covering gaiters or materials with holes of any kind are not acceptable face coverings. Additionally, costume masks are also not considered appropriate face coverings and are prohibited from being worn inside Truist Field.
Exceptions to the face covering policies include:
- When an individual is sitting in his/her assigned seat within the seating bowl, face coverings may be removed briefly while eating and drinking.
- An individual in premium areas may remove face coverings when seated at a fixed area designated for eating and drinking.
- In both aforementioned instances, face coverings must be reapplied when the individual is not eating or drinking. Additionally, fans with suite tickets must follow policies regarding face coverings any time that he/she is not inside the suite that he/she is ticketed for.
If fans cannot supply their own mask, an approved disposable mask will be provided prior to entry.
Parking
With tailgating not permitted, University staff will communicate directly with those who will be able to attend.
Lots will open two hours prior to kickoff and capacity will be limited. Fans must have a ticket to the game to enter the parking lot. Additionally, equipment such as tents, tables, grills, etc. are not permitted.
Gate Entry
Visual cues and guidelines will be posted to assist patrons with ingress and promote social distancing. A reminder that the clear bag policy is in effect at Truist Field.
Social Distancing
Fans are advised to practice social distancing by maintaining a six-foot distance between people outside of their group. This will occur in parking lots, queue lines, common spaces, and within elevators. Where social distancing cannot be observed, strict PPE and personal hygiene requirements will be enforced.
Hand Sanitizers
Hand sanitizer dispensers have been placed strategically throughout the stadium concourse and premium spaces for use by fans and staff. Additionally, sanitizer stations will be placed at key entrances and high-contact locations throughout Truist Field.
Concourse Operations
Signage to promote social distancing, the required use of face coverings and the latest guidelines from public health officials.
Enforcement
All COVID-19 policy enforcement will be maintained at the discretion of Wake Forest Athletics staff and Winston-Salem Police Department. Wake Forest University reserves the right to eject or refuse entry for any reason.