NEW YORK — With the Yankees due to open the season in the Bronx on April 1, they welcomed the news from Gov. Cuomo that New York will start reopening large arenas to fans. Cuomo announced that fans will be welcomed back beginning Feb. 23 with the Nets-Kings game at the Barclays Center with testing and other requirements in place.
The Yankees responded cautiously to the news.
“Governor Cuomo’s announcement today is an encouraging first step. We thank the governor for his leadership, and we will continue to engage his office in productive dialogue moving forward,” the Yankees said in a statement. “The safety of everyone who enters Yankee Stadium remains our top priority, and we will work diligently and in lock-step with the governor to ensure all precautions and procedures are being followed as we lead up to the 2021 baseball season.”
Fans who provide a negative PCR test within 72 hours of an event will be able to attend music shows and performances as well as baseball, soccer, football, hockey and basketball games.
There is a strict 10% capacity limit in arenas and stadiums with more than a 10,000-person total capacity. Venues have to submit their plans to the State Department of Health for approval. Core mitigation efforts like mask-wearing, temperature checks and mandatory assigned seating to ensure social distancing will also be required.
