ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) – Unlike the NCAA tournaments and other athletic events, the WIAA Girls State Basketball tournament will be played – with fans in attendance – at the Resch Center this weekend.
However, the number of those fans will be intentionally limited.
The WIAA announced Thursday that tickets will be limited to 88 per team, two supervisors and a limit of 22 team personnel. Game officials, timers, scorekeeper, announcer, team host, WIAA staff, WIAA athletic trainers and Board of Control members deemed essential to the administration of the tournament are permitted.
Cheerleaders, pep bands, school photographers, videographers, and sponsors will not be permitted.
If you’ve purchased tickets, they’ll be refunded in full.
WIAA officials are having daily conversations with other state athletic associations about what to do – but believe there’s currently no reason to cancel.
“All of the things you would expect us to be doing, we’re doing to make sure we have a handle on the situation,” says WIAA Assistant Director Kate Peterson Abiad, “The situation is being discussed and we are trying to move forward in the way that works best for this situation. That is to play some basketball and honor these kids who have made it this far.”
But the approach is far from careless, as the WIAA and Resch Center are working to ensure the cleanest and safest environment for athletes and fans.
There is contact in the game of basketball, but even with that in mind, officials are asking everyone to be conscientious about the spread of germs.
“If you can avoid that contact and show sportsmanship in another way, we’re going to try to provide those opportunities for them. Just to show that there is some thought going into this,” Peterson Abiad tells WTAQ News, “There will be embraces that are spontaneous that we’re not going to avoid amongst teammates, and we hope that they won’t refrain from celebrations that they would normally have.”
While the WIAA is dealing with concerns about health on the floor, the Resch Center is showing their game face off the court.
“We’re just keeping our ears open and monitoring all of the health agencies as far as what’s out there, and basically do what we can to help mitigate any issues,” says Terry Charles of PMI Entertainment Group, “We will sanitize the locker rooms, elevators, and other confined areas. For our shift changes, everything will be wiped down. And our box office staff will be even more diligent.”
Staff will be meticulously and constantly cleaning the building, but it’s not just on them to prevent the potential spread of germs or illness.
“People need to wash their hands. That is the easiest way to not spread germs. So that’s the first step, regardless of what we do,” Charles says, “We’re encouraging and welcoming people to bring their own hand sanitizers to the event. We will allow that in. We’re also going to order several thousand and will be offering that on a first-come, first-serve basis.”
The tournament runs Thursday through Saturday.
