NMSU suspends concessions at Pan Am Center to increase mask compliance

LAS CRUCES — Following criticism about its lax enforcement of the state’s indoor mask requirement, New Mexico State University announced the Pan American Center will suspend the sale and consumption of food and beverage items in an attempt to increase face mask compliance.

Since the state mask mandate says people can remove masks while eating and drinking, NMSU officials have said the availability of concessions at games can lead many to remove their masks even when not actively eating popcorn or drinking a beer.

"There could be some misconceptions" about what's expected when eating and drinking during a game, NMSU COVID-19 Project Manager Jon Webster told the Sun-News last week.

The news came following a packed men’s basketball game on Saturday between the Aggies and Grand Canyon University. It was the largest home crowd at the Pan Am all season — 12,307 people — and scores of attendees were photographed without masks during the game.

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"Unfortunately, we are seeing less and less compliance with New Mexico’s indoor mask mandate during our home games, and fan behavior at Saturday’s game was cause for grave concern for us and among our public health experts," Chancellor Dan Arvizu wrote in a memo to university students, faculty and staff Monday afternoon. "As a result, we will no longer allow food or drinks to be sold or consumed during indoor sports events until the mask mandate is lifted."

The new rules also apply to the venue's outdoor beer garden and the Barbara Hubbard Room at the Pan Am Center, Arvizu said in his memo. As always, the chancellor states, outside food and drinks won't be allowed inside.

Webster told the Sun-News Monday water will be still available for fans but only in designated, likely outdoor, areas.

The mask requirement will be "strictly enforced by event staff and law enforcement" throughout the Pan Am, Arvizu wrote. Fans who don't adhere to the mask mandate will be asked to leave.

NMSU Athletics Director Mario Moccia said the new rules shouldn't deter Aggie fans from showing up to cheer on their teams.

"Aggie fans are a big part of our home court success with the energy and excitement that they provide,” Moccia said in a news release. “I hope our fans will show up in force, mask up, and support our student athletes."

To increase face mask use, the university chose to implement the same type of measure that's been put in place at other college sports arenas across the country in recent weeks, such as at Ohio State University, Duke University and Loyola University Chicago.

When Ohio State reopens concession sales to fans later this week, they will have been suspended for about a month. The university, in a statement posted Monday, credited it as one of several temporary measures which contributed to decreased COVID-19 positivity among students and staff there.

Las Cruces Public Schools has implemented similar rules, having recently suspended concession sales and prohibited food and drinks at all indoor athletic events and other school activities to try to attain 100 percent mask compliance.

While Arvizu said the university didn't make the decision lightly, he didn't rule out stricter measures if mask compliance continues to not be followed.

"We will closely monitor compliance during the home games taking place later this week," the chancellor wrote. "If mask-wearing continues to be an issue during the next two basketball games for our men’s and women’s teams, we will have no choice but to restrict fan access to indoor athletics events until the New Mexico mask mandate is lifted."

Webster said that would mean the Pan Am wouldn't allow any fans at games going forward.

The NMSU men's team has home games Thursday against California Baptist and Saturday against Seattle this week.

At The Pit at the University of New Mexico, fans must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test no more than 72 hours old to gain admittance to games. Concessions are still available and masks are still required inside when not eating or drinking. The Pit offers free onsite COVID tests before games for fans who haven't been able to schedule one.

When asked by the Sun-News why the university opted to halt concession sales rather than institute a vaccine or negative test requirement, Webster said it would take far more resources and training.

"In the interest of public safety, our best action is to make sure everyone's wearing a mask," Webster said. "Because as we know, that has been one of the best preventative measures in these large crowds."

Without food and drink as a factor, Webster said enforcement should be easier.

Message from Chancellor Arvizu — Adherence to the State Mask Mandate at Indoor Sporting Events by Michael M on Scribd

Michael McDevitt is a city and county government reporter for the Sun-News. He can be reached at 575-202-3205, mmcdevitt@lcsun-news.com or @MikeMcDTweets on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: NMSU suspends concessions at Pan Am Center