No COVID-19 vaccine needed to attend Kentucky football games this fall

The University of Kentucky expects football games in 2021 to more closely resemble pre-pandemic events.

The school on Wednesday announced details regarding its game-day functions and policies, including the anticipated return of tailgating on campus and its “Catwalk,” a popular pregame parade in which players entering the stadium are surrounded and welcomed in by members of the general public. The Catwalk will be “modified,” per a release, and a UK spokesperson confirmed to the Herald-Leader that fans won’t be allowed to make contact with players during that event.

No unique policies will be enforced regarding COVID-19 beyond what the campus has already put into effect. For attendeesat Kroger Field, that means masks will be required in indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status. In its release, UK specifies bathrooms, club seating, the press box and elevators as indoor spaces. The concourse is considered an open-air location in which masks aren’t required for vaccinated attendees.

UK says unvaccinated attendees must wear masks at all times while at Kroger Field, but the school will not require proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 tests prior to entry at the stadium. All attendees riding a shuttle to the venue must wear a mask while aboard the shuttle.

Asked by the Herald-Leader how it plans to enforce the wearing of masks at all times by unvaccinated attendees, UK’s athletic department responded:

“We are following University policies, prioritizing the health, safety and well-being of all members of our community. These guiding principles come with the track record of a successful 2020-21 academic year. Given the UK campus community’s ongoing successful vaccination efforts as well as a mostly outdoor environment at football games, coupled with masking being required for everyone when in indoor spaces, our policies set us up for a successful start to the 2021 season.”

All game-day ticketing and season parking tickets are mobile-only in 2021, a policy previously announced by the athletics department.

LSU, another school in the Southeastern Conference, announced Tuesday that it will require attendees to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test from within the past 72 hours prior to admission to its football games. Georgia, to which UK will travel in October, announced Tuesday that it is not enforcing any COVID-19 mandates during its football games this fall.

This story was originally published August 25, 2021 at 3:36 PM.

Josh Moore

Lexington Herald-Leader

Josh Moore covers the University of Kentucky football team for the Lexington Herald-Leader, where he’s been employed since 2009. Moore, a Martin County native, graduated from UK with a B.A. in Integrated Strategic Communication and English in 2013. He’s a fan of the NBA, Power Rangers and Pokémon. Support my work with a digital subscription