The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Tuesday elevated expectations for event security plans in men’s and women’s basketball and football that will permit only student-athletes, coaches, officials and authorized personnel to enter the competition area before, during and at the conclusion of any competition.
Further, according to the announcement on the ACC website, visiting team personnel and officials must have the opportunity to safely exit the competition area before spectators may access the competition area following a contest. These plans must be reviewed by an independent third party by the start of the 2026-27 academic year.
Breaches of the event security policy will result in a fine that increases for each occurrence over a rolling two-year period — $50,000 for the first occurrence, $100,000 for the second, and $200,000 for all subsequent occurrences. These accumulate per school rather than per sport. Any fines will be put into the Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship account, from which thousands of dollars are awarded annually to each of dozens of student-athletes pursuing advanced degrees after completing their undergraduate requirements.
“Our enhanced health and safety initiatives reflect our continued responsibility to lead with integrity, prioritize the well-being of our programs and fans, and modernize our operations to meet the evolving needs of today’s collegiate landscape,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips in the announcement.
Addressing an ACC Media Days audience, Phillips stated, “The plan may allow spectators to access the competition area following a contest, but only after the visiting team and officials have safely exited the area.”
Shortly after the ACC announcement, Clemson released the following statement, as reported by CBS affiliate WSPA in Spartanburg, S.C.:
“The ACC’s revised Sportsmanship policy provides an important framework for all institutions to evaluate and enhance their safety procedures for fans, teams, and game officials in line with other major conferences and venues. Clemson is in the process of finalizing our updated protocol in accordance with this policy. Our approach acknowledges the significance of Gathering at the Paw on Frank Howard Field at Memorial Stadium, and we intend to allow for its continuation once visiting teams and personnel have safely exited the field. We ask our fans for their cooperation in this matter beginning this fall.”
