ALLENDALE, Mich. – Grand Valley State will host the first athletic competition in 307 days when the Laker men's basketball team tips off on Saturday, January 9, at 1:00 PM against Saginaw Valley State in the Fieldhouse Arena. This will be the first sporting event held on campus since March 8, 2020, when GVSU hosted the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) men's basketball tournament championship.
 
A complete list of winter sport schedules are available on www.gvsulakers.com, with 18 home basketball games between the men's and women's teams, a pair of swimming and diving meets and six indoor track and field meets on the docket for winter season sports. Director of Athletics Keri Becker says the return is a long-awaited beacon of normalcy.
 
"We're so excited to have sporting events back on our campus next month. Amid all the chaos and struggle that this global pandemic has brought, to have our students, coaches and administrators get back to doing what they love is a welcome sight," Becker said. "I'm so grateful to everyone in our athletic department and university for the effort, sacrifice and adaptability that has us in this position to compete."
 
No spectators will be allowed for the start of indoor winter sporting events in 2021, per health and safety guidelines from the CDC as well as state and local health officials. Should circumstances change throughout the winter, the athletic department could revisit the allowance of a small number of spectators. Becker says the safety of members of GVSU's athletic department, and the community, is the top priority.
 
"Our entire athletics department, from student-athletes to coaches to administrators and staff, have worked so hard and made tremendous sacrifices to even put us in this position," Becker said. "We owe it to them and their families to do everything within our power to make sure they can play their full season and do so safely. Removal of in-person attendance is a short-term sacrifice for the long-term health and safety of our community."
 
Most home events will be available for pay-per-view streaming on the Grand Valley Sports Network. Streams can be accessed online at www.watchgvsn.com or by searching for the WatchGVSN app. For a schedule of all home events, visit www.gvsulakers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates follow the Lakers on social media @GVSULakers.