NEW YORK (AP) – The Yankees and Mets can increase capacity from 20% to 100% at their ballparks for home games starting May 19 – as long as fans are vaccinated against COVID-19.
And both teams will be giving away free tickets along with vaccinations.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced at a news conference on Wednesday with Yankees President Randy Levine and Mets President Sandy Alderson.
“Theoretically, if you had 100% vaccinated, you could fill the entire stadium with 100% vaccinated,” Cuomo said. The Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccination will be offered at the ballparks, and a person receiving a vaccination can get a free game ticket. “Unvaccinated, it is still the 6-foot social distancing. In other words, our capacity restrictions have been relaxed subject to the federal CDC social-distancing guideline of 6 feet.”
“If we can encourage more people to get vaccinated by giving away Yankees tickets, we are all in,” the Yankees said in a statement. Cuomo said that the current requirement for fans to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test would be dropped because it is burdensome. Masks will continue to be required. Sections for unvaccinated fans will be at 33% capacity.
Cuomo also announced that Broadway theaters would reopen on September 14 at 100% capacity, and ticket sales could start Thursday. Broadway theaters were closed by Cuomo on March 12, 2020. On Monday, Cuomo said New York City restaurants could raise capacity to 100% on May 19, two days after 24-hour subway service resumes.
All Major League Baseball teams were required to play the pandemic-shortened 2020 season in empty ballparks. Cuomo allowed the New York teams to start this season at 20% capacity (10,850 at Yankee Stadium, 8,384 at Citi Field) and said that in April, 26hey could increase to 33% beginning MaMay 19Cuomo expanded that even further Thursday. “We’ve been polling our fans,” Levine said. “I think the majority are vaccinated rather than unvaccinated who are coming in. And hopefully, those numbers continue to rise. But we will have separate sections and accommodate all season ticket holders, ensure they’re fine, and other people are coming in.”
Seat locations may be moved depending on whether season ticket holders and their guests are vaccinated. Newly sold tickets will be specified as vaccinated or unvaccinated sections.
Levine is hoping for “full house after full house.”
“The main resistance now is people’s fears and people’s comfort level,” Cuomo said. “And when you have a set of rules and protocols in place where people feel comfortable, I think it’s going to have more people attending games. I think more people will go to restaurants. I think more people will go to museums if they know they are safe when they go there. You’re vaccinated; you are going to sit with only vaccinated people. I think that’s going to increase the public acceptance level.”
