Kaneland to temporarily limit fans to ‘immediate family only’ as COVID-19 cases surge

For at least the next two weeks, Kaneland is continuing its policy to limit fan attendance at basketball and wrestling events to immediate family only, athletic director Dave Rohlman confirmed to the Chronicle on Monday.

Kaneland has not specifically designated a number for the what the maximum number of “immediate family” entails, but it is going to try “to limit, to some degree” the number of people attending to allow athletic competition to continue. In an email Rohlman noted “with [COVID-19 test] positivity over 16% in Kane County, we are starting to take more precautions.”

“We actually started it over [winter] break. We had a couple of events we did it at,” Rohlman said. “And, again, we’re trying to be as cautious as possible so we can let [the athletes] keep playing.”

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported the state had a record 6,294 people in the hospital with COVID-19 as of late Sunday, per Shaw Media Digital Editor John Sahly’s Monday report.

Kaneland has implemented the policy for at least a two-week period, and it will be reassessed “by the end of next week,” Rohlman said.

“Our biggest goal is that we don’t have an outbreak and we can keep kids in class,” Rohlman said. “I mean, it’s only Day 1 of the second semester, so we’re doing everything we can to keep kids in class.”

Student sections, pep band usage and concessions stand offerings have been paused, for now, Rohlman confirmed. However, Kaneland is “maximizing all of our space, including our balconies, so teams [and] their fans” can spread out.

Kaneland still is going to offer locker rooms and also has an additional classroom space next to the athletics office for that.

“Just trying to limit how many people are in the gym so that they can spread out a little bit more,” Rohlman said. “I know it’s basketball, and I know it’s wrestling, it’s very difficult to keep your mask on while you’re doing those activities, but if we keep sending that consistent message and we keep reminding people and asking them to follow the expectations, for the most part, people have been really good about it.”

As of Monday, the updated fan attendance policy is by Kaneland’s own volition and has not been officially adopted by the Interstate Eight Conference as a whole.

“I sent out a correspondence to the conference ADs, said, ‘This is what we’re going to do for the next few weeks,’” Rohlman said.

The implementation of QR codes, or digital tickets, is in the process of being finalized but won’t be available until at least next fall. Standard ticketing processes, including cash, still will be accepted.

The Kaneland boys basketball varsity team is expected to continue its season after a brief pause against Morris at 7 p.m. Tuesday.