Fans can attend NY college sporting events starting April 2

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Fans can attend NY college sporting events starting April 2

By the end of the week, New York’s professional franchises won’t be the only teams to have fans in the stands. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that beginning on Friday, college spor…

nypost.com

By Greg Joyce

By the end of the week, New York’s professional franchises won’t be the only teams to have fans in the stands.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that beginning on Friday, college sports in New York can begin bringing back a limited number of fans in attendance while following COVID-19 protocols.

Large-scale college sports venues — ones that hold more than 1,500 fans indoors or 2,500 outdoors — will be able to host at 10 percent capacity indoors and 20 percent outdoors. As is the case with pro stadiums and arenas, attendees will need to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test or completed COVID-19 vaccination.

Small-scale college sports venues, meanwhile, will be able to host two fans per player or a total of 100 fans indoors or 200 fans outdoors. Those numbers can increase to 150 and 500, respectively, with proof of a negative test or vaccination.

Fans must still wear masks, follow social distancing and undergo a health screening upon entrance.

“College athletics not only provide opportunities for entertainment and community pride, but also plays a critical role in helping drive local economies,” Cuomo said in a statement. “COVID has had a devastating effect on many aspects of our lives, and college athletics was not immune. While athletes have been able to resume competition in recent months, it hasn’t been the same without fans in the stands cheering them on. Thanks to the hard work of New Yorkers, we are now in a place where we can begin allowing them to return to games as well. As New York continues its work to beat back COVID and expand vaccine access statewide, we will continue to re-open different aspects of life through a science-based approach so we can return to normal as safely as possible.”

 

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Yankees can sell 10,850 tickets in each of first 11 home games

After a season in which the Yankee Stadium stands sat empty, the Yankees will sell 10,850 tickets to Thursday’s Opening Day at the Stadium and for at least the first 11 home games of the season — u…

nypost.com

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Yankees can sell 10,850 tickets in each of first 11 home games​

By Dan Martin

After a season in which the Yankee Stadium stands sat empty, the Yankees will sell 10,850 tickets to Thursday’s Opening Day at the Stadium and for at least the first 11 home games of the season — until April 21 — which matches the 20 percent capacity is allowed for outdoor venues by New York State.

Fans will be required to have a negative COVID test or proof of vaccination to gain entry. For the COVID test, fans will either have to have a negative PCR test within 72 hours or antigen within six hours. There will also be temperature checks, Yankees senior vice president Doug Behar said during a conference call on Tuesday.

Due to the screenings and safety protocols, Behar said, “We encourage fans to get here early.”

Once inside, face coverings will be required, as well as social distancing. Tickets are being sold in pods — mostly between two and four tickets each — with at least 6 feet between each pod. Concession stands will be open, as will most parking garages around the stadium.

Even when the season begins, the Stadium will continue to be used as a vaccination site through April 30.

All the details are subject to change as the season progresses, with the hope that some of the restrictions can be lessened.

Thursday’s forecast doesn’t look great, with chilly temperatures and some precipitation expected. If the game between the Yankees and Blue Jays is postponed, it can be made up on Friday.

The Blue Jays announced Tuesday they would play another homestand at their spring training facility in Dunedin, Fla., because of COVID-19 restrictions in Canada. The Yankees will visit Dunedin on their first road trip of the season. Their next road series against Toronto isn’t until June and, as of now, is scheduled to be played in Toronto.

As of Tuesday, Toronto hadn’t revealed its rotation order beyond Hyun Jin Ryu, who will start the opener against Gerrit Cole. On Monday, general manager Brian Cashman said he was happy with how the Yankees’ rotation looked.

“I feel our rotation is in a good spot right now,’’ Cashman said. “We’re starting with the group you’d be expecting us to be starting with. They all got their work in and are ready to be deployed. If you asked in the winter time how we would like it if everything played out without injury, that’s how it would be designed.”