Locomotive FC Plans to Play Without Fans for Saturday’s Match

As expected, the El Paso Locomotive FC announced on Tuesday that their stands will remain without fans at Southwest University Park for their home match against Colorado Springs on Saturday, Aug. 8.

The match will still be live on El Paso-Las Cruces CW and on ESPN+ starting at 7:30 p.m. MT.  As they continue to host matches without fans, the club continues to remind fans about the Cutout Conductor program.

"Locomotive FC will continue to diligently monitor the situation and remain in constant communication with health officials as the club moves forward with future home matches and the 2020 season," the club said in a statement on Tuesday.

The USL Championship was the first professional sports league in the country to ramp up its season amid the pandemic. The league has allowed each club to govern its own fan attendance based on the local health and safety guidelines. Locomotive FC hasn't allowed fans this year but other clubs, such as Louisville City FC, have welcomed spectators.

COVID-19 has also become the root of several cancellations in the league. Seven matches have been postponed from the original dates so far. LA Galaxy II had 11 players test positive for the virus on July 28, which was the largest single-club outbreak and resulted in postponing their game against  San Diego Loyal SC for the 29th. Even in Texas, five Austin Bold FC players tested positive for the virus as the team continued to play with just 16 active players last Saturday against San Antonio FC.

El Paso has not yet had a player or staff member test positive for COVID-19.

In the standings, the Locomotive FC is in jeopardy of losing their second-place standing in Group C of the USL Championship. After back-to-back losses to New Mexico United (2-1) and Phoenix Rising FC (3-1), respectively, the club is 1-2-2 with five points. Colorado is currently 1-1-2 with four points.