MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – As the Packers season is now in Week Three, the Wisconsin Badgers are also set to take the field in about a month. But some concerns still surround the potential of COVID-19 spread related to the sport.
Players and staff are being tested constantly, with no confirmed cases yet this NFL season. But Governor Tony Evers points out that the culture around college football, especially in Madison, could lead to sizeable parties and gatherings in the neighborhoods outside of Camp Randall.
“Football is about football players and football fans,” Evers told reporters on Thursday. “We’re also working with UW-Madison on this issue and Dane County, obviously they have a mass gathering order. We’re hopeful that the of city Madison will help us also as it relates to making sure that people understand the importance of keeping those crowds small.”
Evers also plans to reach out to the Big Ten about creating awareness about proper safety measures for fans on game days.
“The Big Ten is spending a lot of money to bring football back into play…They are spending a lot of money for the testing and everything of football players. They need to step up and have a significant stake in this game,” Evers said. “The Big Ten should be doing a PR campaign around this, big time. They are part of the people that made that decision to bring back football. I’m not arguing with the position, but I believe that they also have an obligation around that.”
The governor, however, was impressed with how crowds looked during the Packers home opener this past Sunday and expressed some hope for a safe season. But on the flip side of that same coin, he still urges people to make good choices.
“I was also concerned about the Packer game last weekend, and it seemingly went really well without major problems of large groups of people all over the place,” Evers said. “You can watch those games at home. I plan to. Let’s get everybody involved in solving the problem before it becomes one.”
