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Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, both of which
have served as vaccination sites, will each allow 20% capacity
to start the season, with the Mets' home opener slated for April
8 and the Bronx Bombers kicking things off April 1.
The Mets said in a statement Thursday that fans must provide
proof of a negative result from a PCR or antigen test, while the
Yankees said guests "will be required" to take a test.
Other health and safety measures - including temperature checks,
mask-wearing and social distancing - will also be enforced, the
teams said.
"We’re really excited about the season ahead and welcoming the
best fans in baseball back — safely," said Mets owner Steve
Cohen, adding that he would continue to work with state
officials "as capacity restrictions and testing requirements
hopefully ease" in the future.
The announcement comes after New York Governor Cuomo said
Thursday that pro sports in large outdoor stadiums can reopen at
20% capacity beginning April 1 and that statewide travel for
sports would be permitted starting March 29.
MLB teams have largely been left to determine their level of
attendance since the novel coronavirus forced the league into a
months-long hiatus last year, with state and local officials
enforcing different standards across the U.S.
New York City, the largest sports market in the United States,
recently eased restrictions on attendance at National Basketball
Association (NBA) games, with Madison Square Garden and
Brooklyn's Barclays Center welcoming limited numbers of fans
beginning last month.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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