Texas Governor Allows Fans to Attend Outdoor Pro Sporting Events at 25% Capacity

Leagues will first have to apply and receive approval from the Texas Department of State Health Services, while indoor events will still be held without spectators.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday that fans will be allowed to attend outdoor professional sporting events in nearly every Texas county at up to 25% capacity starting this Sunday, May 31. 

Leagues will first have to apply and receive approval from the Texas Department of State Health Services and indoor events will still be held without spectators. 

Abbott said that the state has set up a number of guidelines for leagues to follow, including a recommendation that spectators and employees keep at least six feet apart from anyone not from their household.

The governor had already announced major professional sports would be allowed to resume in Texas but initially said any games would go on without fans. 

Abbott's announcement on Thursday comes nearly a week after he said he wanted the college football season to start on time with fans in attendance. 

"If you want a prediction, my prediction is yes, we are gonna have college football beginning as scheduled...with at least some level of fans in stands," he said last Friday in an interview with KXAN-TV in Austin.

Note: A previous version of this article stated that sporting events in Texas would be allowed to resume with 25% capacity of fans on Friday, May 29. The actual date sporting events can resume is Sunday, May 31. SI apologizes for the error.