Here’s why Big Ten mayors signed an open letter, asking the conference for help in fighting COVID-19
Twelve mayors from the 14 Big Ten communities have signed on to an open letter addressed to the conference, asking for help in keeping their communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic — by hosting earlier games and releasing kickoff times as early as possible, for example.
The two lone holdouts came from areas representing Rutgers and Nebraska. State College borough Mayor Ron Filippelli made sure the community surrounding Penn State was represented with his signature.
“I signed on because I think it’s very important for Big Ten universities, when making decisions about events, particularly athletic events the size of football games that have the potential to attract a substantial amount of people to the community, that they consider the impact on the community and not just the campus,” Filippelli said Wednesday afternoon.
The letter, which was sent to Big Ten officials Monday, essentially made three requests. The biggest? The Big Ten’s mayors would like the conference to work with local and state officials to come up with community metrics — potentially related to testing positivity rates — that would dictate whether a game might be postponed or canceled.
In other words, if the community around Penn State experiences a large outbreak, a home game might not be played due to the fear of an influx of fans and/or because the games could lead to riskier behavior like watch parties. (There will already be no fans in the stands, outside of players’ family members.) The mayors would also like to see more noon games and fewer night games, to curtail riskier behavior, and would like to know kickoff times earlier so they can better prepare.
Penn State hosts No. 5 Ohio State in its home opener at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31. On Halloween.
“I think the Big Ten has made a major mistake in scheduling this Ohio State game as a night game,” Filippelli said. “(Students) are going to be drinking all day, they’re going to be partying all the way to the game. And then, if Penn State wins, they’re going to be pouring out of the apartments in their dorms and everything else, and they’re going to all be pouring out into downtown.
“And it’s going to be a very dangerous situation. Not only is it going to be a super-spreader event, but it’s a dangerous situation anyway.”
Historically, after big football wins, Penn State students have largely gathered around Beaver Canyon downtown to celebrate, chant and sing — which is problematic during a pandemic, especially considering one medical expert’s continued warnings about the safety of a Penn State community with a small hospital.
To its credit, Penn State has attempted to mitigate a lot of the related issues, and Filippelli has praised its initiative. The university has forbidden tailgating, asked fans to stay away from Happy Valley and can now enforce the borough’s ordinance that issue $300 fines to violators who refuse to wear masks and who gather in crowds larger than 10 indoors and 25 outdoors.
But, with cases rising in most states, concern still remains. And most Big Ten mayors believe the conference can still do more.
“We know the history of football games within our cities,” the open letter read. “They generate a lot of activity, social gatherings and the consumption of alcohol. These activities within our communities have also been associated with an increased spread of COVID-19.
“... To help us slow the spread and be prepared for increased activity, we humbly request a few practical measures that the Big Ten Conference can take to ensure we have the tools we need to combat the spread of COVID-19.”
It is unknown if the conference will take any of the mayors’ requests to heart. A Big Ten spokesperson did not immediately respond to the Centre Daily Times, asking if it plans to follow — or at least discuss — such recommendations.
The Big Ten football season kicks off Saturday.
This story was originally published October 21, 2020 at 3:43 PM.
