The Oregon Marching Band displays a giant United States Flag Oct. 11, 2019, on the field at Autzen Stadium, Eugene. The University of Oregon announced in June 2021 the 54,000-seat venue will allow fans at full capacity for the upcoming season, which begins Sept. 4, 2021, when the Ducks host Fresno State.

EUGENE — Oregon football players face off under the giant screen for the Oregon Spring Football game at Autzen Stadium, officially open for business again.

Oregon announced last month the 54,000-seat venue will allow fans at full capacity for the 2021 season, which begins Sept. 4 when the Ducks host Fresno State.

During an interview with The Register-Guard a month before the announcement, Athletic Director Rob Mullens said he was cautiously optimistic fans would return to Autzen en masse.

The Ducks played only two home games during the 2020 season in front of cardboard cutouts and empty seats due to statewide health and safety restrictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I have been riding on the hope wave for quite a while, and I’m still on the hope wave,” Mullens said. “I am hopeful that vaccination is in fact the path to a full Autzen.”

Gov. Kate Brown announced Wednesday, June 30, the end of statewide health and safety restrictions, allowing Oregon’s athletic department — facing a $55 million deficit for the fiscal year that ended June 30 — to welcome paying customers to flood through the turnstiles again.

Oregon typically makes between $3.5 million and $4 million per football home game.

Face coverings will not be required to attend games at Autzen, but unvaccinated fans are encouraged to wear them. Proof of vaccination will not be required, nor will sections be designated for specific vaccination status, according to Oregon.

“I want to express our gratitude to Gov. Brown and her staff as well as to the Oregon Health Authority and Lane County Public Health for all of their diligence and collaboration throughout this process, as we collectively worked to ensure the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans,” Mullens said in a statement. “This is an exciting time for Oregon Athletics, and we are anxious to kick off the 2021 season in a packed Autzen Stadium.”

Fourth-year coach Mario Cristobal, who received a new six-year, $27.3 million contract before the Ducks won their second consecutive Pac-12 championship in December, has built one of the most talented rosters in program history entering the fall.

Oregon, which plays a marquee nonconference game Sept. 11 at Ohio State, will also host Stony Brook (Sept. 18), Arizona (Sept. 25), California (Oct. 15), Colorado (Oct. 30), Washington State (Nov. 13) and Oregon State (Nov. 27) this season.

“We are just getting started, and I am fired up to relentlessly work and build upon the success so far,” Cristobal said after his contract extension was approved by the board of trustees. “We are privileged to call Oregon home, and we love the sense of family and community here at Oregon.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to elevate the Oregon football program to the next level, and we can’t wait to see the best fans in the nation back in Autzen Stadium next fall.”