WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's athletic department announced its policy for spectator attendance for the upcoming fall 2020 season.

The decisions by Grace College were made primarily for the safety and well-being of all attendees, including student-athletes, officials, staff and spectators.

"We are thankful for the support of our administration and the Crossroads League in order to have a fall sports season right now. All of Grace's decisions regarding spectators have been made with student-athlete and spectator health as the top priority," said Grace Director of Athletics Chad Briscoe. "We are excited to have our student-athletes compete again on their field of competition, and we look forward to having our parents, friends, families and students watch either in person or online."

The policies below affect only Grace home athletic events for the fall of 2020. Fans wanting to attend an away game for Grace should verify the fan policies on each school's website or the Crossroads League's website before traveling this fall.

Spectator policies for winter and spring sports have not been decided at this time. More information will be released later this fall.

A list of frequently asked questions will be posted on Grace's website (www.gclancers.com) this week.

Grace's first home contests are on Sept. 5, including men's tennis, women's tennis and women's soccer.

Home soccer and volleyball games this fall will be streamed online free of charge at www.gclancers.com/live. 

WHO CAN ATTEND

Fan attendance at Grace home athletic events will be limited for the fall 2020 seasons of soccer, volleyball, golf and tennis.

Indiana has mandated as a state to limit large-group sporting events to 250 people at this time. Grace will follow that state guideline, resulting in a maximum capacity of 250 attendees (including game personnel, staff, etc.).

As a result, all Grace home contests will be limited primarily to Grace College students and Grace employees and their families. Additionally, each Grace coach and student-athlete will be given an allotment of tickets to give out at their discretion.

Grace will not allow fans from opponent schools or community members for general admission during the fall unless they appear on the pass list.

Grace has partnered with HomeTown Ticketing to provide electronic ticketing for the fall. Grace College students and employees must register for an electronic ticket in advance of the game to ensure the 250 maximum capacity is followed.

TO RESERVE YOUR TICKET ONLINE CLICK HERE

Families of Grace student-athletes will need to reserve their spot through the pass list, which will be maintained by each respective team. Those on a pass list must present a photo ID in order to gain admittance to games.

No attendee will be permitted inside the facility without either an electronic ticket or appearing on the family pass list.

For soccer games at 1st Source Bank Field, spectators may not sit or stand outside the facility along the fence line in order to watch the game.

All tickets will be free for the fall.

COVID-19 POLICIES FOR SPECTATORS

All spectators in attendance for the fall 2020 season will need to adhere to social distancing procedures, ensuring six feet of separation between fans. 

Immediate family members may sit together in closer proximity, but family members must identify themselves at the gate upon entering to receive sticker identification.

Spectators and staff will be required to wear a mask at all times while in attendance of Grace home events, regardless of the facility being indoors or outdoors. Exceptions will be made to those with medical conditions, which must be previously approved by Grace College's Human Resource office or Grace's campus nurse.

Sanitizing stations will be available at the entrance to Grace's facilities, and attendees are encouraged to clean their hands upon arrival.

Concessions will not be available at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center (volleyball) or Miller Athletic Complex (soccer, tennis) at this time.

Public restrooms will be open at all facilities, but masks must continue to be worn and social distancing upheld whenever possible.

Game management personnel will be present to strictly follow all Grace College and Kosciusko County policies both inside and around our athletic facilities.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where do I get tickets for the fall season?

Attendance will be strictly limited to Grace students and employees as well as families of Grace's student-athletes and coaches. Grace students and employees will obtain a ticket online (CLICK HERE). Family members will reserve a spot on a pass list, which is maintained by each respective team.

How much will tickets cost?

There will be no charge to those who attend an athletic contest in the fall at Grace College.

Will I need to show my ticket at the gate?

Yes. Grace students and employees must present either an electronic ticket or printed ticket in order to gain entrance to the facility for each game day. GET YOUR TICKET HERE

Will I be able to obtain tickets at the gate before a game?

Attendees will not be permitted inside the facility without either appearing on the pass list or showing their electronic ticket. Since tickets will be limited, it is strongly encouraged to reserve your ticket online well in advance of each contest.

I am a member of the Warsaw/Winona Lake community or a parent of an athlete on the away team. Can I attend games at Grace?

Unfortunately not for the fall of 2020. All home games will be streamed online at www.gclancers.com/live for free, and we encourage you to follow along that way.

What is HomeTown Ticketing?

HomeTown Ticketing is Grace's online ticketing provider. Grace College students and employees will need to reserve a ticket for each game online. The link for online tickets can be found here. 

How do I get on the student-athlete pass list?

Contact your student-athlete or member of the coaching staff for discussions about the home pass list.

How will tickets be given out?

Once you reserve your ticket, you will receive an option to either save an electronic ticket or print out a physical ticket. You must bring either your electronic ticket or physical ticket to the gate to gain admittance.

If you are on the pass list, you will need to show photo ID for verification.

Can I sit with my immediate family without social distancing?

Yes. All immediate family members must identify themselves at the gate upon entering. Family members will be given sticker identification to allow families to sit together.

Will my season pass work for fall games?

No. You must have a ticket or appear on the pass list in order to attend.

When will I be able to reserve my tickets to Grace sporting events?

Tickets will be made available online by visiting https://gclancers.com/news/2020/8/25/grace-athletics-tickets-grace-college-athletics.aspx.

Will this policy be the same for basketball games in the winter?

Winter sports policies have not been determined yet. More communication will be shared later in the fall.

Do children or babies need a ticket?

Yes. All attendees must have a ticket in order to comply with the Indiana state mandate of 250 total attendees.