American River College announced on Feb. 22 that fans will be allowed at indoor sporting events for the first time in two years. Spectators had been unable to attend indoor sporting events since the COVID-19 pandemic forced ARC online.

Steve Roberson, the athletic director at ARC, says there are protocols that spectators must follow when attending indoor sporting events.

“[Fans] would need to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test and they would need to remain masked up indoors,” Roberson said.

ARC’s men’s basketball team had its first game back with fans on Feb. 22. Mark Giorgi, the team’s head coach, says it was great to have fans back in the building.

“When we were coming back in one of the games it was the fans, the noise and the cheering that helped so it’s definitely been a pleasant change,” Giorgi said.

Giorgi says that players having friends and families in the stands helps put them at ease.

“Whenever they know that their friends or their family is there it gives them a little bit of confidence too, they know that there’s somebody else supporting them,” Giorgi said.

ARC also announced on Feb. 10 that spectators could attend outdoor events without showing proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.

“For outdoor events masking is not required and distancing is up to each individual group that comes to the outdoor events,” Roberson said. 

More information on ARC sports can be found on the ARC athletics website.