ABILENE – The high school football season in Abilene kicks off next week with both Abilene High and Cooper in action and single-game tickets will go on sale Tuesday at the One AISD Center in downtown Abilene.
Seating capacity at Shotwell Stadium will be limited this season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which means the AISD will not be selling season tickets for either team. Instead, all fans will have to buy tickets week-to-week during the season. Seating capacity for each game at Shotwell Stadium will be roughly 5,700, but will drop to around 5,000 once bands, pep squads and other school-related groups are taken into account.
Pre-game ticket sales will occur at the One AISD Center (241 Pine St.) from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-12 p.m. on Fridays. Those tickets will be $8 for adults and $4 for students for both AHS and Cooper games. Student tickets can still be purchased on campuses as in previous years. All tickets sold at the gate for either team will be $10 for both adults and students.
Fans who have traditionally purchased season tickets for either team will have the opportunity to renew those same season ticket seats for the 2021 season.
Pre-sale ticket numbers from AISD campuses and the visiting teams will be communicated to the AISD ticket office by noon on the day of the varsity game. Band and drill teams will be factored into the seating capacity equation. The remaining allotment of tickets will be transported to the stadium for sales. When the home side (west side) capacity is met, the gates will be closed and fans will be directed to the visitor side (east side) gates. All gates will be closed when the total seating capacity is met.
In accordance with AISD’s policy on campuses and in its facilities, everyone entering the stadium above the age of 2 years will be required to wear a mask / face covering and social distancing seating guidelines will be addressed by seat designations. Seats that cannot be used will be marked with an “X.”
Another new rule in place is that elementary and middle school students must have a ticket and must be accompanied by a parent with a ticket for entry into the stadium. High school students must have a ticket and school-issued student ID for entry into the stadium.
The first football game at Shotwell Stadium is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 25, when Abilene High hosts Amarillo Tascosa at 7 p.m. Cooper and Abilene High will meet on Oct. 2 and Wylie and Cooper will face off at Shotwell on Oct. 9.
