By Ohio Valley Conference
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - The Ohio Valley Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championship will be held March 3-6 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
This year the OVC has followed guidance from the NCAA and the OVC Medial Advisory Group and worked extensively with the Mayor's Reopen Evansville Task Force, the Vanderburgh County Health Department, Deaconess Hospital and the Ford Center to put into place additional health and safety protocols to keep the participants, workers and fans safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Our community is proud to host the OVC Basketball Championships and looks forward to welcoming the teams, student-athletes and fans," said Steve Schaefer, Deputy Mayor & Chair of the Reopen Evansville Task Force. "As we continue to reopen and host major sporting events in Evansville, safety remains our top priority."
Fans attending this year's event will be temperature screened upon entering the Ford Center and will be required to wear a face-covering/mask at all times. Spectator seating for the Championships is limited and will be divided into socially-distanced pods. Pods will be spaced by the CDC prescribed safety distance of at least six (6) feet apart from other seating pods. This buffer is comprised of the row in front and behind the group being left vacant as well as a minimum of three seats on either side of the pod. All aisleway seats will be left vacant in order to maintain a buffer from patrons as they move to their assigned seating locations. All spectator seats will be sanitized before use and there will be increased sanitization performed in all commons areas.
Additionally, the Ford Center Clear Bag Policy remains in place for all fans in attendance. Fans may carry in one clear bag no larger than 12"x6"x12". Additional information can be found at www.OVCSports.com/clearbag.
The OVC will be utilizing a tier credentialing system that minimizes interaction and creates the safest environment possible for participating teams, workers and media. The system limits the number of individuals on the team bench side of the court as well as the locker room and backstage areas. The scorer's table will be "flipped" to the opposite side of the court, and all media will be relocated to the concourse or press box levels, limiting the arena floor to essential personnel only. Bands and spirit squads will not be in attendance, and no promotional activities will take place on the court during pregame, in-game or at halftime.
The official team travel party will be limited to 25 individuals (designated as Tier 1) and are required to produce a negative PCR and antigen test for COVID-19 before arriving in Evansville. Tier 1 individuals will be tested on each day of competition throughout the duration of the Championship. The on-site daily testing will be conducted by Deaconess Hospital with assistance from the Vanderburgh County Health Department.
Participating teams are also required to follow all COVID-19 protocols set forth by the Ford Center and the hotel properties.
"This tournament is absolutely a team event, as every single person affiliated with it, including coaches, student-athletes, fans and the community, has a role to play in ensuring its success by being responsible and abiding by the protocols put in place," said OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche. "The health and safety of everyone involved is our number one concern and without the help of so many in the Evansville community, this event would not be possible."
More information on this year's OVC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships, including how to purchase tickets, can be found at www.OVCSports.com/Evansville.
