[Farm93]

ND will allow 20% of capacity in stadium, strictly students, faculty, staff and members of their households.

FWIW - I think fans in the stands is crazy.   

However, if the desire is to create a better TV product then the school should be all in on that aspect.
Wealthy donors that generally sit and talk about business deals and retirement portfolios during the game would not enhance the TV product.  They also are not living in that campus community day to day so their attendance creates new risks for everyone.   If they are in the stands rather than students, then the money grab just takes on a new pathetic level.

If noise and passion are desired for the TV product and COVID community-to-community transmission is a concern, then bring in the people that are with the athletes every day.  Let each "dorm" or "house" get its own section.   Bring out the band, but instead of cramming them into 15 rows, given them a section or two (or more).   etc.

Football stadiums appear to have that 80/20 situation where 80% of the noise is created by 20% of the fans.   At most schools that 20% will be the students and the band, so if the goal is to enhance the audio of the TV product then get the 20% of fans into the stands that provide the audio you seek. 

Still believe zero is better than 20% because 20% still requires ushers, police and other first responders, clean up crews and other essential workers that just seem to get COVID too often.   It is one thing to get COVID keeping public transportation running or roads open, it is another thing to get COVID to assist the effort of enhancing game day audio for football games on TV.

[Farm93]

ND will allow 20% of capacity in stadium, strictly students, faculty, staff and members of their households.

FWIW - I think fans in the stands is crazy.   

However, if the desire is to create a better TV product then the school should be all in on that aspect.
Wealthy donors that generally sit and talk about business deals and retirement portfolios during the game would not enhance the TV product.  They also are not living in that campus community day to day so their attendance creates new risks for everyone.   If they are in the stands rather than students, then the money grab just takes on a new pathetic level.

If noise and passion are desired for the TV product and COVID community-to-community transmission is a concern, then bring in the people that are with the athletes every day.  Let each "dorm" or "house" get its own section.   Bring out the band, but instead of cramming them into 15 rows, given them a section or two (or more).   etc.

Football stadiums appear to have that 80/20 situation where 80% of the noise is created by 20% of the fans.   At most schools that 20% will be the students and the band, so if the goal is to enhance the audio of the TV product then get the 20% of fans into the stands that provide the audio you seek. 

Still believe zero is better than 20% because 20% still requires ushers, police and other first responders, clean up crews and other essential workers that just seem to get COVID too often.   It is one thing to get COVID keeping public transportation running or roads open, it is another thing to get COVID to assist the effort of enhancing game day audio for football games on TV.