Amsoil Arena, Romano Gymnasium to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test result this weekend

DULUTH — Fans attending University of Minnesota Duluth sporting events this weekend on campus at Romano Gymnasium and downtown at Amsoil Arena will be required to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19, or a proof of a negative COVID-19 test in order to see the Bulldogs .

Masks are also still required inside Romano and Amsoil, per the city of Duluth’s mask mandate.

The UMD men’s and women’s hockey teams are home at Amsoil Arena on Friday and Saturday. Women’s hockey hosts Minnesota State-Mankato at 3 p.m. both days in WCHA play, while the men’s hockey team hosts Western Michigan at 7:07 p.m. both nights in an NCHC series.

Up the hill, the men’s and women’s basketball teams play Southwest Minnesota State on Friday and Sioux Falls on Saturday. The NSIC doubleheaders begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday and 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

The vaccination and negative test requirements come from a policy issued earlier this month by University of Minnesota system president Joan Gabel for University of Minnesota schools throughout the state . The temporary policy went into effect last week and runs through Feb. 9, but could be extended.

In addition to this weekend’s action, the other UMD sporting events that will be impacted are men’s and women’s home basketball games Feb. 4 against Minnesota State-Moorhead and Feb. 5 against Northern State.

Here is what fans need to know about the new policy and what to expect this weekend at Romano Gymnasium and Amsoil Arena.

Fans should bring their Centers for Disease Control-approved vaccination card, or a photo of their vaccination card. A government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, state ID card, passport) with a matching name will also be required. An Immunization record app, such as Docket, along with a photo ID is also acceptable. Fans under 18 are not required to show a photo ID.

No, you just need to be fully vaccinated, meaning it has been at least 14 days since you received your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccination or single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Unvaccinated fans must receive a medically supervised test result within 72 hours of entry into either Romano Gymnasium or Amsoil Arena. You should bring a copy of the negative test result (email, printout or screenshot) along with a photo ID to the arena.

At-home tests will not satisfy the testing requirement. Photo IDs are not required for those under 18.

Because fans under 5 are not yet eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19, they are not required to be vaccinated or provide a negative test result.

All you need to provide is your UCard to gain admittance.

At Amsoil Arena: Fans will be receiving a flyer when entering the DECC parking lots with information on what is required. Fans will then be checked by DECC staff in one of three places — the skywalk from the parking ramp to the Amsoil Arena ticket lobby, the downstairs entrance below the ticket lobby and in the DECC lobby. Watch for signs. Extra staff will be on site to assist at checkpoints. Gates at Amsoil Arena usually open an hour before puck drop, but are expected to open earlier than usual to account for the extra time it may take for fans to get into the arena.

At Romano Gymnasium: Fans will be checked by UMD staff in the main ticket lobby prior to entering the ticket line for entry. Watch for signage. Extra staff will be on hand and Romano will be opening 75 minutes prior to tip-off of the first game each day.

If you think this is a hassle, know that some schools out east aren’t even allowing fans into arenas anymore for sporting events.

At Ohio State, they’ve closed all concessions at university events and fans aren’t permitted to bring food or beverages . The same has happened at Colorado College's new Ed Robson Arena .

At Amsoil Arena, the concessions will remain open and the menu has expanded since the start to now include grilled cheese, corn dogs, poutine, Mexican street corn and now super nachos with chunks of porketta on house-made chips.

You can also have a beverage — hot or cold, alcoholic or not.

Still don’t want to go? Season ticket holders and those who purchased tickets through the UMD ticket office can receive a refund, get credit toward a future ticket purchase or donate the amount of their ticket purchase to UMD athletics. Contact the UMD ticket office at 218-726-8595.

If you purchased through the DECC box office, Ticketmaster or elsewhere, you’ll need to contact the vendor for options.