Today the Texas Department of Licencing and Regulation announced a phased re-opening of combat sports in the State.
The announcement notes venues will be subject to 50% capacity and that approved events are subject to cancellation with the agency monitoring “factors including positive test rates and hospitalization rates in the area where the event is scheduled. If there’s a localized spike in cases, the agency may cancel an event any time up to the beginning of the bout.“
The full announcement reads as follows:
Combative Sports now back on tap in Texas
AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation will start accepting applications for combative sports events in the state in preparation for a phased-in reopening with a limited number of events. Events will be able to include spectators, with a cap of 50 percent of the total listed occupancy of the venue.
Event promoters must follow TDLR COVID-19 protocols that were developed with input from the TDLR Combative Sports Advisory Board’s Medical, Health, and Safety Workgroup; ringside physicians; and other medical professionals. TDLR’s protocols include COVID-19 testing for all athletes, seconds and event support staff.
In addition, promoters must submit their own operational plan to TDLR and to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The operational plan must detail the promoter’s plans for daily COVID-19 screenings, providing protective equipment and staffing, as well as cleaning and disinfecting the event venue and athlete delegation housing.
When deciding whether to allow an event to proceed, TDLR will monitor factors including positive test rates and hospitalization rates in the area where the event is scheduled. If there’s a localized spike in cases, the agency may cancel an event any time up to the beginning of the bouts.
TDLR has received eight requests for events so far for October, November and December. TDLR will evaluate each application and no event should be considered “official” until it is listed on the TDLR Combative Sports web page. Promoters should email the Combative Sports program with any questions.
Combative sports events in Texas including professional boxing, mixed martial arts, kick boxing and Muy Thai, as well as amateur mixed martial arts, Muy Thai and kickboxing, have been suspended since the COVID-19 shutdowns in March. TDLR had initially approved events in June, but a spike in cases across the state caused the agency to cancel those as well.
Combat Sports Law 