The Miami Heat announced Monday that further guidance about when fans again can be in attendance at home games will not come until prior to the Jan. 16 visit by the Detroit Pistons at AmericanAirlines Arena.
In their ongoing updates amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Heat continued the policy of no fan attendance for both Monday’s home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Wednesday night’s visit by the Boston Celtics.
The Heat then open a four-game trip starting Saturday in Washington.
The Celtics game will mark the fifth of the Heat’s 36 regular-season home games without general fan attendance. The Heat also played their lone home exhibition without fans.
The Heat have had a limited amount of family members and friends of players and staffers at recent home games.
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Most NBA teams are continuing without fans in their buildings, but the other two teams playing in Florida, the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors (who have been forced to relocate due to Canadian pandemic border rules), have made limited seating available to fans.
The Heat, like most teams, have utilized piped-in crowd noise and sound effects during games, continuing with their public-address announcer and DJ.
Where teams stand with attendance policies, per the NBA’s Jan 1 update:
Atlanta Hawks: Currently limited to family and friends of team, with plans for 10 percent capacity starting Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 18.
Boston Celtics: No fans, per municipal regulations.
Brooklyn Nets: No fans, per municipal regulations.
Charlotte Hornets: No fans currently, with hope policy will evolve.
Chicago Bulls: No fans, per municipal regulations.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Reduced seating limit of 300.
Dallas Mavericks: No fans, with planning for potential change.
Denver Nuggets: No fans, but working “closely with state and local authorities to navigate the safest return to hosting.”
Detroit Pistons: No fans, working “closely with the NBA and state and local authorities to identify appropriate timing for safely welcoming back fans.”
Golden State Warriors: No fans, per municipal regulations.
Houston Rockets: Operating at “reduced capacity.”
Indiana Pacers: Team announced it will “look forward to having fans back” at home games this month.
Los Angeles Clippers: No fans, per municipal regulations.
Los Angeles Lakers: No fans, per municipal regulations.
Memphis Grizzlies: No fans, “due to recommendations from local public health officials.”
Milwaukee Bucks: No fans, “the team will continue to work with state and local health officials, as well as the NBA, to evaluate a potential return for fans in some capacity.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Yet to announce policy.
New Orleans Pelicans: Hosting approximately 4 percent of capacity at Smoothie King Center, about 750 fans.
New York Knicks: No fans, per municipal regulations.
Oklahoma City Thunder: No fans, “an abundance of caution to help control the spread of the virus in our community.”
Orlando Magic: Physically-distanced, limited capacity of approximately 4,000.
Philadelphia 76ers: Yet to announce policy.
Phoenix Suns: No fans. “due to the increased transmission of COVID-19 in Arizona.”
