TCU Reveals Details for 2020 Football Season

 

Despite the coronavirus pandemic and numerous universities and athletic conferences, including the Big 10 Conference and the Pac-12 Conference, the Big 12 and its 10 teams, including Texas Christian University, are moving forward with a fall sports schedule that includes playing football.

In fact, revised football schedules for TCU and the nine other conference teams have been published.

TCU’s 2020 football schedule is here.

The Big 12 Conference football schedule is here.

“Our student-athletes want to compete, and it is the board’s collective opinion that sports can be conducted safely and in concert with the best interests of their well-being,” said TCU Chancellor Victor Boschini, who is the Big 12 Board of Directors Chairman. “We remain vigilant in monitoring the trends and effects of COVID 19 as we learn more about the virus. If at any point our scientists and doctors conclude that our institutions cannot provide a safe and appropriate environment for our participants, we will change course.”

Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said he is confident in the conference’s protocols and ability to keep athletes safe.

“The virus continues to evolve and medical professionals are learning more with each passing week,” Bowlsby said. “Opinions vary regarding the best path forward, as we’ve seen throughout higher education and our society overall, but we are comfortable in our institutions’ ability to provide a structured training environment, rigorous testing and surveillance, hospital quality sanitation and mitigation practices that optimize the health and safety of our student-athletes.”

TCU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics thanked TCU supporters for their loyalty and patience during these unusual times.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc in our communities over the past five months, we have been in a continual state of change and are adapting to our new circumstances almost daily,” explained Donati. “The one constant is that the health and safety of our student-athletes, staff, fans, and community continue to be, and will always be, our top priority.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have consulted with numerous local, state and national medical experts to assist us in navigating our return to campus this fall and our return to competitive sports. As you know, there are a number of new health and safety protocols in our everyday lives that we must all adhere to in order to minimize the risk of exposure and spread of the virus.  These protocols will have an impact on our TCU Football Game Day experience and much of what we are used to will temporarily look different for the 2020 season.”

Among the changes at TCU for this season:

• Due to social distancing guidelines, Amon G. Carter Stadium’s capacity limit will be approximately 12,000 fans.  
• Tailgating and the gathering of large crowds in the parking lots will be prohibited on campus.

Other adjustments for the 2020 season are outlined here.

Dontai said that for the 2020 season, all season ticket holders have these options:

• Select temporary seats for the 2020 season.
• Opt out for this year and use your payment as a credit and have the opportunity to renew your pre-pandemic seat locations next year.
• Convert your season ticket purchase into a donation to the newly established Frog Club Purple and White Fund that is eligible for a tax deduction and will receive double Horned Frog Priority Points (6 points per $100).
• Receive a full refund. 

Additional information is here.

TCU will open its season in Fort Worth against SMU on September 12.

The Frogs’ next game will be their conference-opener, against Iowa State, in Fort Worth, on September 26.

The rest of the schedule is:

October 3, at Texas
October 10, vs. Kansas State
October 24, vs. Oklahoma
October 31, at Baylor
November 7, vs. Texas Tech
November 14, at West Virginia
November 28, at Kansas
December 5, vs Oklahoma State
December 12/19: Big 12 Conference Championship Game

At this time, based on health and safety recommendations from state and local authorities TCU will have a maximum capacity of 12,000 for home football games. In an effort to accommodate as many season- ticket accounts as possible, Donati said a seat-selection process will be held, starting August 24. These are the details:

• Similar to the normal upgrade process, each season-ticket account, based on priority rank within the Horned Frogs Priority Points System, will be assigned a selection date and time to log into their online account and select the seats they want for the 2020 season. Essentially this is a re-seating plan for the 2020 season only.
• The maximum number of tickets allowed per season ticket account will be four (4).
• This process will only affect the 2020 season and all accounts will be given the opportunity to renew their pre-existing seats for the 2021 season. 
• Fans who wish to opt-out of the 2020 season may do so by contacting the ticket office at 817-257-3764 or tickets@tcu.edu.
• Season-ticket accounts that elect to opt-out will automatically have their previous payments applied as a credit toward their 2021 renewal. 
• Requests to have previous payments converted into a donation to the newly established Frog Club Purple & White Fund, which is eligible for a tax deduction and will receive double Horned Frog Priority Points (6 points per $100), should be directed to the Frog Club (817.257.7700 or frogclub@tcu.edu). 
• To request a refund to your season ticket account, email the ticket office (tickets@tcu.edu).

Here are measures TCU is taking to ensure a safe environment at Amon G. Carter Stadium:

• Mobile ticketing solutions for contactless entry will be implemented
• Face coverings will be required to be worn by everyone in attendance
• Staggered entrance times and gates to reduce clustering will be on your mobile ticket
• Social distancing markers at gates, concessions, and restrooms will be put in place
• Hand sanitization stations will be located throughout the stadium
• Elevators will operate under state mandates of no more than 4 passengers and an operator
• Cashless concessions and merchandise transactions will be in place
• Multiple clean teams will continually clean common areas during the event
• Staff will be screened prior to entering the facility

Of course, despite the Big 12 Conference and TCU moving ahead with plans for a fall sports season, the environment remains fluid and uncertain because of the pandemic. Changes, and even cancellations, can be forthcoming at any time.