The league says fans can only enter the competition area following a game’s conclusion & only after the visiting team’s players, coaches & staff have left the field.
CLEMSON, S.C. β On day one of the ACC preseason media gathering in Charlotte, league commissioner Jim Phillips announced a change in post-game procedures which concerns field and court storming following games.
According to Phillips, conference teams will be required to upgrade their security procedures Β which will allow only authorized personnel in the areas of play at the end of the games with fans eventually allowed access on the field or court after the visiting team has left field or court.
Β “Only participants, coaches, officials and authorized personnel are allowed in the competition area before, during and at the conclusion of any competition,β Phillips said Tuesday.
“Fans are allowed to storm the field or court after the visiting team and officials ‘have safely exited the area’.βΒ
As far as punishment for schools who do not adhere to the policy, the fine will double with each violation.
The first offense would cost the school $50,000, a second offense would cost the school $100,000 and a third offense will generate a $200,000 fine.
The timeline for fines will reset every two years and applies to football and menβs and womenβs basketball.Β
Clemson has a long tradition of fans immediately storming the field at Memorial Stadium and the court at Littlejohn Coliseum regardless of the opponent.
Shortly after the commissioner’s remarks, Clemson released the following statement –
βThe ACCβs revised Sportsmanship policy provides an important framework for all institutions to evaluate and enhance their safety procedures for fans, teams, and game officials in line with other major conferences and venues. Clemson is in the process of finalizing our updated protocol in accordance with this policy. Our approach acknowledges the significance of Gathering at the Paw on Frank Howard Field at Memorial Stadium, and we intend to allow for its continuation once visiting teams and personnel have safely exited the field. We ask our fans for their cooperation in this matter beginning this fall.β