Press Release: Rice-UTEP Game Will Not Be Open to the Public, 11/20/2020
Rice University announced on Friday there will be no tickets available to the public for the Owls’ football game with UTEP at Rice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 28. The only exception will be limited to a limited number of direct family members of competing student-athletes.
The decision was made in response to surging rates of COVID-19 infection in the Houston area. Rice’s mitigation protocols have allowed the school to maintain a low rate of positive tests for the virus while offering in-person instruction for most of its classes during the fall semester.
In accordance with the Rice Ticket Assurance program, football season ticket members will receive an email from tickets@rice.edu[1] offering them the option to either donate their ticket credits to the Rice Athletics Scholarship Fund[2], keep the money on their accounts for a future purchase or receive a refund. The final credit amount will be determined based on the number of games played with fans in attendance.
Rice Athletics is offering a $10 virtual ticket option [3]for fans to stay engaged on game day and support the Owls. Fans will be able to gain access to exclusive content made available through The Aviary, a new online game day community platform.
This Saturday against North Texas, fans can get a glimpse of The Aviary for free admission that will feature limited content with access to the radio booth behind the scenes and various sideline first person views. To view the broadcast stream on Saturday, visit RiceOwls.com/Community[4].
These virtual tickets will also be made available to all current season ticket members at no charge.
Virtual ticket features include:
- Access to The Aviary Broadcast Stream (auxiliary stream with in-stadium camera access, behind the scenes radio booth feed, live stat updates, and interactive game day content.)
- 2020 Rice Football Intro Video
- Virtual Game Day Program
- Zoom Pregame Field Pass
- Game Day Spotify Playlist
- Video Message from Head Coach Mike Bloomgren[5]
- Performances from Rice Spirit Groups (MOB, Cheer, Dance)
The Owls (1-1) are scheduled to take on North Texas (2-3) in Denton on Saturday. In addition to the home game with UTEP on November 28, Rice is currently scheduled to round out the 2020 season with a road game at Marshall on December 5 followed by a home game with UAB on December 12.