FGCU men’s, women’s basketball host first games at Alico Arena since pandemic onset

Basketball players at FGCU will take to the court as planned. All teams have been cleared through COVID-19 protocols.

We went to Alico Arena Friday on FGCU’s campus to see how the university is making it safe for fans.

FGCU women’s basketball game played its first game of any kind on campus in front of fans since the onset of the pandemic in March.

“I’ve been anticipating this through COVID,” Bernice Kertavage said. “It’s the one thing that keeps me going seeing sports at FGCU.”

Alico Arena is limited to 13,000 spectators inside to cheer on the Eagles. Fans will be socially distanced, with carboard cutouts in between. Masks will be worn at all times. That included players during warmups.

“We’re basically going to continue to foster and encourage an environment of people are appreciating it’s a different time, yet you can still come to the games and enjoy and root on the Eagles,” Athletics Director Ken Kavanagh said. “Hopefully, there’s some victories.”

That means sanitizing the arena between the women’s game and men’s game.

Fans told us they felt safe and excited to get the chance to cheer on their beloved Eagles

“We’ve been through so much in this country with the pandemic, and this is going to be a great diversion,” Frank Andrews said.

“I really feel safe, and I feel that they’re looking out for us,” Kertavage said.

The women went on to win its opener against Florida Memorial University 86-40. After the game, the two teams had a postgame wave, no handshake line

FGCU men’s basketball defeated FAMU 65-56.