TCU required all visitors to wear masks to enter the stadium.

The Frog Alley entrance was stacked with people trying to get through the temperature check.

Staff used an automatic infrared scanner to measure, in less than 5 seconds, the temperature of fans entering the stadium.

Acknowledging the Texas heat, staff allowed people whose temperature was above 100.2 degrees to stand in front of a fan to see if they truly had a fever or if the high reading was a result of the heat.

After passing the temperature check, visitors received a blue wristband to show they had passed and then proceeded to the mobile ticket scan.

Forget about barcodes and QR codes; staff members waived scanning devices over fans’ phones to pick up the signal.

The process didn’t take long, unless a phone had to be repeatedly scanned because a signal couldn’t be found.  

Inside the stadium, there was no sea of purple and white chanting “Go Frogs.” Instead, scattered pockets of fans dispersed sparingly throughout the stadium.

One TCU fan said it seemed as if the Frogs were losing by 21 points with no hope to come back.

But TCU fans weren’t the only ones missing. At one point, only about 100 Iowa State fans could be counted in the crowd.

One Iowa State fan said he came because he lives in the area and wanted to meet up with family, who drove from Oklahoma.

No matter who scored, touchdowns weren’t met with the typical stadium-wide eruption of cheers and excitement. 

Fans for both teams said the quiet and the slow start to the game felt more like a scrimmage than a regular conference game.

Concession lines for the Frogs' home opener were considerably shorter than usual, given the limited capacity.

At halftime, most lines looked as if fans only had to wait about five to seven minutes, and many concession stands didn't have any lines. 

“It was nice being able to get food without missing 20 minutes of the game,” said Lauren Mallette, a junior at TCU.

Sanitation and safety were the priority of the food service staff. Workers wiped down every surface during any down time they had. 

According to the TCU Athletic Food Service COVID-19 Adjustments, all staff were required to wear the appropriate PPE, including face coverings, gloves and face shields. 

Customers in line were encouraged to use cashless payment options. They were required to follow social distancing guidelines and could only take their masks off when eating or drinking. 

The concession menu was also limited for safety purposes, and beer and other drinks were being served in closed containers. 

Mallette said she was able to order what she wanted despite a limited menu.

Some concession options were closed due to the smaller crowd size, and vendors were not allowed to walk the rows of the stands to sell food and drinks as they usually are. 

“You could tell that the workers were still adjusting, but I appreciated how quick the service was regardless of the craziness of a COVID game day,” said Mallette.

TCU allowed students to request tickets and create groups of up to four people. But not all of those who requested a ticket received one, and many students didn't submit any requests.

For example, Gabbi Struchen, a junior strategic communication major, decided to watch the game with a few friends in her sorority house, skipping large watch parties or off-campus tailgates.

“It’ll be fun to get to be together and enjoy it without having the extra worries that come with being around large crowds right now,” Struchen said. 

Bao-Tram Le, a sophomore biology major, also did not request a ticket because she said watching the game at home would be just as enjoyable and allow her to avoid large gatherings and the new restrictions.

“We could still get ready, order pizza and gain the full experience pandemic-style,” Le said.

TCU Athletics released a statement last month explaining that tailgating is prohibited in all lots and spaces, “in order to provide the safest environment for fans to enjoy TCU Football this fall.”

This lack of tailgating led to a pre-game environment TCU fans aren’t used to. Each lot, usually filled with raucous Horned Frogs fans, was instead filled with empty cars and spaces.

To try to make up for the loss of on-campus pregame spirit, TCU Athletics set up the new Frog Alley, located on Stadium Drive. Frog Alley is a family-oriented pregame party/tailgate, where booths are set up for music, games and food.

This week, Mexican restaurant Mi Cocina and Rudy’s BBQ set up booths, and even The Coaches’ Trophy, the trophy presented to the CFB National Champion, made a visit to Frog Alley this week. 

Frog Alley will be continued throughout home games this football season.

While tailgating wasn’t allowed on lots surrounding the Carter, that didn’t stop fans from getting their tailgate fix in before the game. Many fans said they participated in off-campus tailgates, which were hosted in neighborhoods close to campus.

TCU student David Clary said he got ready for the game at a friend’s house in Bluebonnet Hills. He said they did all the same things they would at a normal tailgate. 

“We had some burgers on the grill and just had a good time,” Clary said. “It wasn’t the same as being next to the stadium with hundreds of other Frog fans, but it made do under the circumstances.”

These off-campus tailgates were very helpful for the business of Kroger. 

Initially, the store was worried that the lack of tailgating might impact its sales. On a pre-COVID-19 game day, Kroger could expect TCU tailgaters stopping by to run a quick errand, whether it be for burgers, beer or ice. 

Crista Cook, the store manager, said they plan for football Saturdays the same way they would plan for a holiday.

“Anything that you would sell for tailgating, we load up on,” Cook said. 

She added that though the store expected less traffic than normal, they prepared the same way they have in previous years. 

The Kroger parking lot was full for the duration of the morning and afternoon.