MASON CITY, Iowa – The North Iowa Bulls have announced that the team will continue playing its upcoming home games with spectators at the Mason City Multipurpose Arena, after receiving permission from the office of the Governor of Iowa on Tuesday.
Monday evening, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced a temporary suspension of youth and adult sports across the state of Iowa as part of an emergency proclamation regarding the spread of COVID-19. Under Tuesday’s clarification, the Bulls, members of the North American Tier 3 Hockey League, were placed under guidance pertaining to college and professional sports, which will allow the junior hockey team to continue playing without having to limit attendance to two spectators per participant.
However, safety orders issued by Governor Reynolds from last week remain in place, including the requirement to wear a mask in indoor gatherings, and a restriction on groups of more than eight people
within an indoor gathering except those who are in the same household. As such, all group sales of more than eight tickets are currently unavailable, and further social distancing measures are being implemented that will comply with this mandate. Further information on these measures will be made public closer to
Friday and Saturday’s games, when all details have been finalized. Admission limits will be further reduced in order to maintain these enhanced social distancing and group-size limits and requirements.
Under the Governor’s latest proclamation, in-person food and alcohol sales are required to end by 10 p.m. – though these are now requirements, ending food and alcohol sales prior to this time have long been standard at North Iowa home games, and no changes are anticipated. Many of the state’s latest measures, such as mandatory mask usage, have been in place throughout the season, and will continue to remain in place. Temperatures will continue to be taken as fans enter the facility, as part of the Bulls’ commitment to going above and beyond to promote fan health and safety at their home games.
“We take the health of our staff, players, players’ families and fans very seriously,” said North Iowa Bulls Director of Business Operations Kathee Corsello. “We share this facility and take into account the health and well-being of all entities present in it. We are observing all current COVID mandates, and most of the new mandates do not affect how we are operating. We have been proactive with our COVID procedures since Day One of our season.”
Further measures may be implemented as needed under the guidance of local and state authorities. These measures will allow the Bulls to continue providing the North Iowa area with the highest-quality sports entertainment possible, while doing so in a safe and responsible manner.