Gov. Abbott says Texas is aiming to start college football season on time, with fans in stands
AUSTIN, Texas -- Gov. Greg Abbott says that Texas is working to have the college football season start on time, with at least some fans in attendance, as the state continues to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Once we get to college football season, our goal right now is to have college football season start as planned, with fans in stands,” the Republican governor said. “What we don’t know is what the capacity level would be.”
Abbott, speaking during an interview with ABC-7 at the start of the Memorial Day holiday weekend, said there are still a few factors that remain to be seen, such as stadium capacity, the availability of medical treatment for the virus and the overall status of the outbreak in Texas. Abbott said he expects to know more about those issues around mid-July.
Abbott has already issued new rules to allow youth sports leagues to resume in June and for some professional leagues to hold events without spectators. But the state rules have so far not touched college sports.
"But if you want a prediction, my prediction is yes, we are gonna have college football beginning as scheduled ... with at least some level of fans in stands," Abbott said.
You can watch Abbott's entire recent interview with ABC-7 in the video player at the top of this article. He discusses the virus outbreak and the situation in El Paso before the conversation turns to sports and college football.
