The Big Ten announced in a statement that attendance policies will be defaulted to local guidelines for the remaining 2020-2021 competitions, allowing fans into regular season events for the first time since last March.
“This policy update is effective immediately and includes spring football events,” the statement said. “This decision follows the announcements by the conference on March 4, 2021, to allow a limited number of fans to attend the 2021 Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, and on March 9, 2021, to follow local health guidelines and restrictions for all remaining 2020-21 Big Ten Conference championships and tournaments. The goal is to transition from a conference-wide approach to local decision-making in consultation with public health departments and university medical experts.”
The current Michigan directive states that for indoor stadiums with a capacity of less than 10,000 persons, no more than 375 may be allowed. For indoor stadiums with a capacity greater than 10,000, no more than 750 are allowed. Outdoor stadiums may allow up to 20% of it meets certain COVID-19 restrictions.
There is no Washtenaw County directive currently in effect about limiting attendance.
The previous Big Ten directive limited attendance to only family and friends, and throughout the winter Michigan has complied with state directives that allowed no fans.
Volleyball, tennis and water polo are the only remaining indoor sports to compete at home for Michigan. Soccer, lacrosse, track and field, field hockey, baseball and softball are sports with outdoor venues that are competing.