Fans Will Return To Road America In June With Added Safety Precautions

In early March, it looked like live sports without fans might become the norm amid the coronavirus pandemic. Now, Road America in Elkhart Lake is taking that route as it prepares to host the first MotoAmerica Superbike event of the season this Friday through Sunday.

The racing venue made the decision to hold the televised event without fans under Wisconsin’s now-overturned “Safer at Home” order, said communications director John Ewert. He said it will be different to host races without fans in attendance, but that under the current circumstances it’s important to get creative.

“It’s about adapting to this new normal and overcoming,” he said.

The event will give Road America the opportunity to test-drive the new safety precautions it has put in place as a result of the pandemic before spectators return to its larger events in June, Ewert said.

At 640 acres, Ewert compared Road America to state parks and golf courses, which Gov. Tony Evers reopened in May before the extended stay-at-home order was set to expire.

Road America has been working closely with local, state and federal health officials to ensure it meets safety standards, Ewert said.

As of Thursday, Sheboygan County had 10 active COVID-19 cases and was in phase one of its reopening plan, which allows outdoor events to take place if they can accommodate for at least 6 feet of social distancing.

At Road America, where fans aren’t confined to a grandstand, they can easily spread out, Ewert said. The venue is asking fans to stay home if they don’t feel well, he said. It has also installed sneeze guards and hand sanitizing stations around the grounds, and fans will be encouraged to wear face coverings in high-traffic areas.

Road America has no plans to limit attendance. In helicopter photos taken at previous NASCAR and IndyCar events, the venue didn’t look crowded, even with 50,000 people in attendance, Ewert said. He said he thinks Road America could accommodate up to 25,000 people while maintaining social distancing.

MotoAmerica will return to Road America for its second event of the season in June. Fans with tickets for the May races can use them then. Ticket holders who don’t feel comfortable attending due to safety concerns can receive a credit to be used through 2021, Ewert said.

Motorsports have been among the first live sporting events to return during the pandemic. After more than two months on hold, NASCAR resumed live racing May 17 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina without fans in attendance.