Gonzaga University revoked basketball legend and alumni John Stockton’s season tickets for not wearing a face covering at the school’s basketball games.
QUICK FACTS:
- Stockton told a local newspaper, the Spokesman-Review that Gonzaga athletic director recently told him that the university had made the decision to suspend his season tickets after he refused to wear a mask to the games, The Blaze reported.
- “Basically, it came down to, they were asking me to wear a mask to the games and being a public figure, someone a little bit more visible, I stuck out in the crowd a little bit,” Stockton said.
- “And therefore they received complaints and felt like from whatever the higher-ups — those weren’t discussed, but from whatever it was higher up — they were going to have to either ask me to wear a mask or they were going to suspend my tickets,” he explained.
- The Spokesman-Review said that the university has begun to punish visitors violating the mask policy after suspending concession sales inside the arena, ensuring fans have no reason to take their mask off at any time.
- Stockton admitted that he thought about complying with the mask policy to keep his tickets, but ultimately decided he needed to hold his ground on the matter.
- The school immediately released a statement following his decision, refusing to directly address the issue with the hall of famer.
- “We will not speak to specific actions taken with any specific individuals. We take enforcement of COVID-19 health and safety protocols seriously and will continue to evaluate how we can best mitigate the risks posed by COVID-19 with appropriate measures. The recent decision to suspend concessions in McCarthey Athletic Center is an example of this approach,” Gonzaga said in a statement.
STOCKTON ON THE UNIVERSITIES DECISION:
“When the rules change, then tickets will be reoffered.”
BACKGROUND:
- John Stockton is recognized as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, being named one of the 50 greatest NBA players in 1996 and then as one of the 75 greatest NBA players in history this past October.
- He was infamously a part of the 1992 United States Olympics men’s basketball team, otherwise known as the “Dream Team” and nearly 20 years following his retirement, remains the record holder for career steals and assists.
- Gonzaga University now requires either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours before attending athletic events on campus.
- Regarding masks, their website states that “fans over the age of 5, regardless of vaccination status, must wear face mask coverings over their nose and mouth while inside the venue.”
