Fans won’t be required to show proof of vaccination, negative COVID test entering Aillet Stadium

Despite other universities around the state requiring its football fans to show proof of either COVID vaccination or a negative test, Louisiana Tech will not follow suit.

When the Bulldogs host Southeastern Louisiana Saturday at 6 p.m. for the 2021 home opener, the university will not be checking vaccination status when fans enter the gates to Joe Alliet Stadium.

“We will not ask for proof of vaccination or a negative test at the stadium,” Malcom Butler, senior associate AD of communications, said Wednesday.

Louisiana State University will hold its home opener against McNeese State this Saturday and will have several stations at Tiger Stadium to check vaccination status. Tiger Stadium holds more than 100,000 fans.

The pandemic and the surge of the Delta variant is having an effect on tailgates around Aillet Stadium. The Louisiana Tech Alumni Association has hosted tailgates at the Argent Pavilion outside the west side of the stadium yearly.

According to Jared Latta, director of the Louisiana Tech Athletic Club, food won’t be served at Argent Pavilion this season, only water.

“You have the different areas of tailgating, and the Argent tailgate is usually a big one,” Latta said. “It should still be a good spot even though they aren’t serving food.”

Latta said the red parking lot, which is reserved through payment to the university, is hosting regular tailgating as usual. That includes an RV row that is capable of hosting 16 RVs. The red lot is large enough to reserve 29 tailgating spots.

As of now, there won’t be masks required in any open air areas in the stadium. Media covering the game in the press box will be required to wear a mask.