Update: 10:48 a.m.
An organization called College Athlete Unity is speaking out on behalf of the Big Ten’s 1,000-plus football players demanding specific commitments from the conference and member institutions, including greater third party oversight of testing and safety enforcement, in-season testing three days per week, scholarship protection and much more. Read their statement, via the Players Tribune.
Original story
The Wisconsin Badgers and the Big Ten Conference have released the team’s upcoming Big Ten-only 10-game schedule, revised due to the current coronavirus pandemic.
But in a letter to Badgers fans, Athletic Director Barry Alvarez says that he is disappointed that fans will not be able to attend those games.
“I have been paying close attention to the case numbers in our community and we are preparing for the reality that it will not be appropriate for thousands of fans to gather in Camp Randall on Saturdays this fall,” Alvarez said.
The schedule includes:
- Fri. Sept. 4 vs. Indiana
- Sat. Sept. 12 at Northwestern
- Sat. Sept. 19 at Nebraska
- Sat. Sept. 26 vs. Minnesota
- Sat. Oct. 3 at Maryland
- Sat. Oct. 10 vs. Purdue
- Sat. Oct. 24 vs. Illinois
- Sat. Oct. 31 at Michigan
- Sat. Nov. 14 at Iowa
- Sat. Nov. 21 vs. Rutgers
Kickoff times were not initially announced.
Due to the athletic department’s financial straits from lost ticket and other stadium-generated revenue, Alvarez is asking fans who have purchased season tickets to make that purchase a 100 percent tax-deductible donation to the university’s athletic program.
“Without further investment from our community, the experience we love as Badgers is at risk,” Alvarez said in the letter.
“We are facing a critical financial crisis. Depending on what the football season looks like, we are facing revenue losses of between $60-100 million.”
The athletic department is also giving options for moving 2020 ticket payments and donations to 2021 or to receive refunds.