'We are going to have a full stadium,' Pollard says ahead of anticipated Iowa State football season

The most anticipated Iowa State football season in history is expected to unfold in front of sellout crowds.

Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard said Wednesday that Jack Trice Stadium will not have fan limitations in 2021 as the nation moves out of the COVID-19 pandemic amid rising vaccination rates and falling positive cases.

"We are going to have a full stadium this fall," Pollard said during a virtual event. "Campus is open for business come this fall."

The Cyclones are expected to open the 2021 season ranked in the preseason top-10 for the first time in program history after going 9-3 last season with a Big 12 championship game appearance and a Fiesta Bowl championship. Nearly the entire roster returns from that team.

The high expectations have led to surging interest in a football program that always has had devoted fans but rarely had serious successes to celebrate.

"Based on ticket sales, I think we're going to have more than 100 percent capacity," Pollard said of the 61,500-seat stadium. "We're going to find out how many people we can fit on those grass hills."

Iowa State fans had to experience the historic 2020 season mostly from afar due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendance was limited to season-ticket holders, many of whom opted out of attending games during the season by either receiving refunds or deferring their tickets to the 2021 season. 

The Cyclones initially announced they would welcome up to 25,000 fans in their August home opener against Louisiana, but reversed course and allowed only family and friends to attend after community backlash stemming from Ames being identified at the time as the worst coronavirus hotspot in the country.

Fans were also not permitted to attend a November home game against Kansas State due to community spread concerns, but the Cyclones saw about 14,000 spectators at their other four home games of the year.

Iowa State also required strict mitigation adherence, from universal mask-wearing to a ban on tailgating, one of Jack Trice Stadium's most beloved traditions.

Iowa State president Dr. Wendy Wintersteen announced Wednesday that the university would be following CDC guidance with fully-vaccinated individuals no longer required to wear masks on campus in most situations. Wintersteen also announced there will be a transition to normal occupancy for campus buildings.