clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

What You Need to Know About the UCF 2020 Football Season

Home and away ticket distribution, opted-out players, seating capacity and more

UCF Football Stadium, Bounce House Photo Courtesy: UCF Athletics

UCF announced Tuesday its game day plans for the 2020 football season, including everything Knight Nation needs to know about ticket distribution, Bounce House capacity and physical distancing.

Athletic director Danny White announced Monday the Bounce House was approved for 25% capacity for the first home game on Oct. 3 vs. Tulsa.

White also said any decisions about athletics will be made in cooperation with the American Athletic Conference.

“Our league officials, including our medical experts, remain optimistic in the ability to play sports this fall,” he said Aug. 14.

Head coach Josh Heupel said this upcoming season in the Bounce House won’t be like any other season.

“It will look and sound different than anything that you’ve prepared for,” he told the media on Tuesday.

The UCF Knights are scheduled to kick off its season at Bobby Dodd Stadium vs. the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Sept. 19, but here’s what you need to know for the rest of the season:

Seating capacity in the Bounce House

The Bounce House was approved for 25% capacity for at least the first game of the 2020 season, White announced Monday.

The stadium has a normal capacity of 44,206, meaning that about 11,000 fans will be allowed in the stands. About 3,000 of these seats will be reserved for students.

The capacity limit has the potential of changing throughout the season, UCF Athletics said.

Heupel told the media Tuesday the environment inside the stadium will be unlike any other, away or at home.

“I think in a normal year, you talk about going on the road, it may be a hostile environment and having to create your own energy,” he said. “This year as much as any other year, you’re going to need to do that inside of your own stadium.”

Who’s not playing?

Head coach Josh Heupel told the media Tuesday 10 players opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. Among these players are:

  • QB Darriel Mack Jr.
  • CB Tay Gowan
  • DL Kalia Davis
  • DL Mason Cholewa
  • CB Devunte Dawson
  • OL Allan Adams
  • OL Lamarius Benson
  • DB Elijah Benoit
  • OL Adrian Medley
  • DL Kendrick Wilson

Tickets for home games: Season passes, student section and single games

There will be no season tickets for the 2020 season.

Furthermore, the amount paid toward season tickets has been converted to an account credit for all pass holders, which can then be turned into four-game or two-game packages or single game tickets for Tulsa and Temple.

According to an email sent to season pass holders Tuesday, there are three different options for any unused account credit:

  • Get a refund
  • Apply credit to the 2021 season ticket renewal to guarantee seats and price for next season
  • Donate all or a portion to the Keep Charging On Fund to guarantee seats and price for next season

The 12,000-seat student section will be reduced to fit 3,000 students. The Knightmare section — normally found in the north end zone — will be expanded into additional sections.

Student tickets will be dispersed through a lottery system where 1,500 students will be chosen to attend each game with the opportunity to bring one other UCF student with them for the games they are chosen.

For more information on the student ticket lottery, click here.

All tickets will be digital starting this season as well.

Tickets for away games

UCF Athletics said there is no expectation to sell tickets for away games due to the limited capacity being implemented at all venues.

“Fans interested in attending games at other stadiums will need to either purchase tickets directly through the home team’s ticket office or through the secondary market,” UCF Athletics said.

Tailgating, pregame festivities and halftime

Fans cannot tailgate in UCF parking lots for the first home game on Oct. 3.

The Sponsor Fan Zone and photo stations will be available at IOA Plaza before kickoff. The Knight Walk, Tailgate Concert Series, March to Victory and Kids Zone will not take place in the 2020 season.

Per AAC guidelines, there will be no on-field performances from the Marching Knights, UCF cheer or dance teams, but they will still be present at the stadium. No visiting bands or spirit squads will be permitted.

COVID-19 protocol

To protect the health and wellbeing of fans on game days, UCF is working in league with the Florida Department of Health, Orange County, UCF health professionals and the Orlando Health Business Ready Team.

  • All fans and staff will be required to wear a face covering
  • 50 hand sanitizer stations throughout the Bounce House
  • Sanitizing teams will regularly clean high-touch surfaces
  • Restroom attendants will monitor cleanliness
  • Trash will be removed regularly throughout the game
  • Physical distancing markers will be placed around the stadium
  • Restrooms will be at full capacity but will be sanitized regularly throughout game day

UCF Football 2020 Schedule

Home games in bold:

  • Saturday, Sept. 19 at Georgia Tech at 3:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sept. 26 at ECU
  • Saturday, Oct. 3 vs. Tulsa
  • Saturday, Oct. 17 at Memphis
  • Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. Tulane
  • Saturday, Oct. 31 at Houston
  • Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. Temple
  • Saturday, Nov. 21 vs. Cincinnati
  • Friday, Nov. 27 at USF

For more information on premium seating, transportation and other game day activities and guidelines, visit UCF Athletics to see the 2020 Game Day Guide.

Daniella Medina is a contributing writer for Black & Gold Banneret. Follow her on Twitter @danimedinanews.