Spartan football: What spectators need to know this season

SJO students cheer for the Spartans during the team's 2019 home football game against Central Catholic. St. Joseph-Ogden issued the school's ticketing and admissions policy for the upcoming football season.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

This week, St. Joseph-Ogden High School announced its guidelines for fan and spectator attendance for this season's home football games.

With IHSA and Illinois Department of Public Health agreeing to increase fan capacity at outdoor events to 20%, the school will allow 735 spectators into the facility to view varsity home games. Through the school's ticketing system 115 tickets are allocated for visiting fans, 100 will be distributed among the student body and 520 will be available for general admission into the two home varsity contests this season.

The ticketing system will not be used for the five total Junior Varsity and Freshman/Sophomore home games. The Fresh/Soph team will open their season at the newly renamed Dick Duval Field on March 22 with a 6pm battle against Illinois Valley Central.

The varsity squad will take play the first of their two home games on March 26 against Pontiac. SJO senior football players, cheerleaders and band members will be honored for their contribution and dedication before kickoff that evening.

Key points in the guidelines that fans and spectators will need to remember are masks must be worn at all times, only spectators with printed tickets will be allowed to enter, and failure to follow any of the established IDPH guidelines "will result in immediate removal from the facility." Fans will be able to enter through any of sports complex's three gates into the Glenn Fisher Athletic Complex.

Fans for both home and away teams unable to secure a game ticket or who would rather enjoy at watch party at home can watch games via the NFHS streaming services. The SJO Fan Club purchased a video system that now allows home football games to be streamed live as well as recorded for later viewing. If you are not already a subscriber, follow this link sign up for a monthly or annual subscription to watch SJO athletics live. Monthly passes are just $10.99 each or save 47% and purchase an annual subscription at $69.99. A portion of the annual purchase is donated to the school by NFHS.

Otherwise, admission to the game for both home and away fans is $4 per person. SJO students will be admitted at no charge.

Fans and spectator can familiarize themselves with the guidelines available here: St. Joseph-Ogden Guidelines for Spectators.

SJO Fan Club fundraiser orders due November 24

There are just four days left to take advantage of the annual St. Joseph-Ogden High School fan club $10 T-shirt sale. If you haven't ordered yours yet, order today to help support all the athletic programs at the high school.

"It's the only fundraiser fan club is doing this year. Because of Covid and the uncertainty of sports seasons, there was no good way to do the all athletic fundraisers that we've done the past few years," Tammy Vallee said. "I know I'd never be able to complete the list of what the funds are spent on, but each sport receives funds to spend on items they need. The fan club purchases larger items as they become needed as well, such as weight room updates and equipment that were added this past year."

With Christmas just around the corner, Spartan fans can email their name, email address, cell phone number and shirt sizes to tammyvallee@comcast.net or via Facebook Messenger. Payment can then be mailed or dropped off at 800 East Lincoln, St Joseph, IL, 61873. Checks must be made payable to SJO Fan Club. All payment and orders must be received by Tuesday, November 24.

Shirts can also be ordered with a student at the high school, who can submit orders and deposit payments at the check-in doors when they arrive at school in the morning.

The fan club expects T-shirt orders to be available for pickup the week of December 14.

The $10 T-shirts are available in sizes from youth through adult XL are available for $10 each. Extended sizes are also available at slightly higher prices with 2XL at $12 each and 3XL at $13 apiece. The fan club reminds fans who order to make sure to specify YOUTH in their email or messages when ordering a children's sizes.

The SJO Fan Club is an organization of parents, staff and community members who actively help every athletic program at the high school with fundraising and volunteers when needed.