NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — After Vanderbilt University fans’ excitement about three major victories against ranked opponents led to a total of $850,000 in fines within four months, officials announced a new policy for postgame celebrations.
Between October 2024 and January 2025, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) fined Vandy on three separate occasions for violating the league’s access to competition area policy, which states that “institutions shall limit access to competition areas to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly credentialed or authorized individuals at all times. For the safety of participants and spectators alike, at no time before, during or after a contest may spectators enter the competition area.”
Vanderbilt’s first offense happened on Oct. 5, 2024, after a historic victory against the University of Alabama, which had the nation’s No. 1 football team at the time.
Not only did Commodore fans swarm the field following the game against the Crimson Tide, but they tore down a goal post, carried it a few miles through downtown Nashville, and tossed it in the Cumberland River. As a result of that incident, the SEC fined Vandy $100,000, which went to the University of Alabama.
Several months later, on Jan. 18, the Commodores beat the University of Tennessee Vols, who were ranked No. 6 at the time, 76-75. Vanderbilt fans stormed the court at the end of the game, which was the first sellout at Memorial Gym since 2019, according to the Associated Press.
The next day, the SEC announced Vandy would need to pay the University of Tennessee $250,000 for that second offense.
Despite the fine, Commodore fans repeated their actions the following weekend, flooding the court after Vanderbilt beat then-No. 9 University of Kentucky 74-69. The Associated Press said it was the Commodores’ first victory over the Wildcats at Memorial Gym since 2016.
Then, on Jan. 26, the SEC released a statement saying Vandy would need to give the University of Kentucky $500,000 for a third offense under the league’s current policy.
With several home games coming up in the next week, Vanderbilt announced a new policy for postgame celebrations following men’s and women’s basketball games in Memorial Gym in order to “protect participants and supporters without diminishing the passion that has lifted Memorial Magic to new heights during a historic year for Vanderbilt Athletics.”
“I want to thank you for the great crowd support you’ve given our team this year. If we’re fortunate enough to win, we need a new way to celebrate. We need to stay off the court,” Mark Byington, the head basketball coach for Vanderbilt, said in a video released on Friday, Feb. 7.
Officials said once a game ends and all visiting team personnel and game officials have left the competition area, students and fans will be allowed to celebrate safely on the court for 30 minutes.
In order to aid with this policy, Vandy said the video board visible throughout Memorial Gym will display a one-minute countdown after the game. Then, as soon as the countdown ends and the court is clear, spectators are welcome to access the court.
“You are a huge part of our success, and it’s great having Memorial Magic and the environment you all create,” Byington added. “We can’t wait to share future successes with you.”
However, security and guest services employees will continue to keep unauthorized individuals away from back-of-house areas, according to the university.
With regard to upcoming games at Memorial Gym, Vanderbilt’s men’s basketball team is set to play the University of Texas at Austin at noon on Saturday, Feb. 8 and then Auburn University at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Then, the Vandy women’s basketball team will face off against Mississippi State University at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13.
