Provo High School made plans Wednesday afternoon to move its homecoming football game to Spanish Fork. Hours later, the Nebo School District stepped in to nix the idea.
Gov. Gary Herbert had moved Provo City back to the “orange” or moderate pandemic response phase starting Wednesday night following a recent surge in COVID-19 infections. The governor’s order once again limits large gatherings to 20 people or fewer to help prevent spread of the coronavirus. Spanish Fork is not under those restrictions, however, and moving the game would have allowed a bigger crowd to attend.
But Nebo School District, which includes Spanish Fork High School, put an end to those plans.
“After discussing this matter together, the Nebo District Administration has asked the Provo District Administration and Provo High School to find a different venue,” Nebo spokesperson Lana Hiskey confirmed in a brief email statement.
The Provo Bulldogs will now hold the game at their own stadium on Friday.
“I’m assuming there was probably a little pushback. With the [COVID-19] numbers in Provo, they probably didn’t want people traveling down to Spanish Fork,” said Provo School District spokesman Caleb Price.
As of Tuesday, Provo was averaging 108 new daily COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people, the highest rate in Utah County.
Asked whether moving the game violated the spirit of the governor’s order, Price said he didn’t believe there was any malicious intent.
“It was an effort to be able to provide seniors and their families a homecoming game and everything that comes with it,” Price said.
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