Cooper Baxter said it would have been strange to not hear the roar of the crowd, the soaring notes from the band and the chants of encouragement from the cheerleaders during the home opener Friday night for the Butler Area High School football team.

“It would be extremely abnormal,” Cooper said.

The junior quarterback for the Golden Tornado won't have to concern himself with that now.

Superintendent Brian White said the band will play and the cheerleaders will cheer at the football game against McDowell.

He also said each player, band member and cheerleader will receive two game tickets for family or friends.

The decision to increase the number of spectators comes in the wake of the 66-page opinion by U.S. District Judge William Stickman IV Monday that said, in part, Gov. Tom Wolf's limitations on indoor and outdoor gatherings are unconstitutional.

Butler athletic director Bill Mylan said the decision to increase the number allowed inside Art Bernardi Stadium Friday night to 550 was being discussed before Monday's court decision.

“We had kind of been throwing it around for awhile,” Mylan said. “Dr. White and I communicated and we felt like we wanted, with the uncertainty of (the coronavirus) and the chance we could be shut down at any time, to give the band and cheerleaders an opportunity to perform at a game like in any other year.”

It was also important to White and Mylan to allow parents to watch.

Cooper was particularly pleased with that decision.

“It's great that we can all have at least a parent or a relative come to watch us play,” Cooper said. “It means a lot to our parents, too, because they want to be there as much as we do.”

White said safety is paramount.

All in attendance will be required to wear a mask and conduct their own wellness check before they come to the stadium.

Wellness check questions are posted on the district's website.

“We don't want to be irresponsible,” he said. “We can social distance.

“Our stadium holds 6,800 people,” White added. “We feel it is safe and appropriate to allow players, cheerleaders and the band to be present and bring two guests.”

The concession stand will not be open Friday night. Visiting fans will also be asked to sign a form indicating they performed a wellness check before arriving at the school.

On Tuesday, the Karns City Area School District opened up its sporting events to all fans.

Other districts in Butler County, though, have decided to wait for more guidance from Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine or the PIAA, the state's athletic governing body.

The PIAA met Wednesday, but did not address the court ruling.

PIAA associate executive director Melissa Mertz said the organization is waiting for the new guidelines on spectators from the governor's office.

Mylan said that new policy is expected to be announced Monday.

The spectator increase will only apply to football Friday night at Butler.

Other sports will still adhere to the 25 indoor and 250 outdoor limit, Mylan said.

“It is a definite possibility in the weeks to come,” Mylan said. “For now, just for this week, it's football Friday night.”

Cooper said even though more fans will be in attendance, something will still be missing.

“Last year, we had a couple of thousand fans in the stands and this year we're lucky to get a couple hundred,” Cooper said. “The guys and I will miss the atmosphere 100%, but we'll be ready to go.”

Butler Eagle staff writer Steve Ferris contributed to this report.