Could Hurricane Idalia impact UCF football's home opener?
ORLANDO, Fla. - Hurricane Idalia is expected to become a major Category 3 hurricane ahead of its anticipated landfall along Florida's Gulf Coast.
The expected landfall comes just before UCF football is scheduled to host its opening home game against Kent State at FBC Mortgage Stadium.
TRACKING IDALIA: See the latest updates about Hurricane Idalia here
The university's website has been updated with the following message on Tuesday:
"UCF’s Emergency Management team is actively monitoring Tropical Storm Idalia in conjunction with our local National Weather Service office in Melbourne and the National Hurricane Center. Academic and most campus operations are suspended Wednesday, Aug. 30. Students, faculty, and staff should remain indoors and off the roads during periods of possible intermittent tropical winds and weather."
UCF will operate as usual until midnight Tuesday. Classes are planned to resume on Thursday.
A spokesperson for UCF Athletics told FOX 35 News on Tuesday afternoon that Wednesday's campus closure does not impact Thursday's football game. The team is still expected to hold late afternoon meetings on Wednesday and an indoor walk-thru.
UCF Fan Experience, a branch of UCF Athletics, also said Thursday's game remains as scheduled.
UCF: Will UCF close campus for Tropical Storm Idalia?
Kent State plans to leave campus and arrive in Orlando on Wednesday afternoon – and those plans haven't changed, a spokesperson told FOX 35 News. The school is speaking with its director of operations and UCF as well.
"We're confident that our travel plans and the game shouldn't be affected," the spokesperson said.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
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Tracking Hurricane Idalia
Click here for the latest Hurricane Idalia updates as it treks toward Florida's Gulf Coast.
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