Professional Sporting Event Capacity is Bigger in Texas
Both the Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboys announced today that they will be opening at full capacity when their respective seasons' kick-off. The Dallas Cowboys obviously have plenty of time to announce protocol and see where the COVID-19 rates are closer to the season before announcing their plan, but the Texas Rangers don't have the same benefit of time with their season starting in early April.
According to the announcement from the Texas Rangers, they will have full capacity at two exhibition games against the Brewers on March 29th and 30th. Then again on Opening Day, against the Blue Jays on April 5th.
After that, the team announced that they will reserve sections of the stadium to be "socially distanced" but did not provide clarity on that. The Rangers announced also that facemasks will be required and be enforced with the same protocol as excessive profanity, which is basically if one person has to tell you to stop several times they reserve the right to kick you out.
The Rangers also announced these protocols will be followed:
- Masks will be required for all fans except when actively eating or drinking at their ticketed seats. That includes all concourse areas and when entering Globe Life Field.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the ballpark.
- Globe Life Field will again be cashless, as it was for 2020 events. All tickets will be digital and only credit cards will be accepted at concession stands and retail locations.
- Safe distancing will be enforced in concession lines and retail locations.
- No bags will be permitted except for those that are carried for medical reasons or manufactured diaper bags that accompany infants and young children.
- The Rangers are working with Major League Baseball to finalize health and safety protocols as it pertains to the seating bowl and the playing field at Globe Life Field.
The Rangers announcement comes just over a week after Governor Abbot lifted the restrictions on Texas related to COVID-19.
"The Rangers are encouraged that the Governor's Office has given clearance for us to fully open Globe Life Field at the start of the 2021 Major League Baseball season," President of Business Operations and Chief Operating Officer Neil Leibman said in a press release Wednesday. "We will require all those who enter Globe Life Field to wear a mask or face covering, and are working with Major League Baseball on some additional protocols required for player health and safety. We will continue to monitor developments and implement the necessary public health measures. We are excited that Rangers fans will finally be able to experience all that Globe Life Field has to offer."
LOOK: Answers to 30 common COVID-19 vaccine questions
While much is still unknown about the coronavirus and the future, what is known is that the currently available vaccines have gone through all three trial phases and are safe and effective. It will be necessary for as many Americans as possible to be vaccinated in order to finally return to some level of pre-pandemic normalcy, and hopefully these 30 answers provided here will help readers get vaccinated as soon they are able.