Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium will re-open to fans on April 1, just in time for Opening Day of the 2021 regular season, the California Department of Public Health announced Friday.
How many fans will be allowed through the gates? Like a baseball player nursing a mild injury, capacity is considered “day-to-day.”
If the rate of new coronavirus cases does not change between now and each team’s home opener, Angel Stadium and Dodger Stadium will be able to admit up to 100 fans for their first regular-season games. The Angels host the Chicago White Sox on April 1. The Dodgers host the Washington Nationals on April 9.
According to the latest data provided by the state of California, Orange County is recording 7.5 new positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, while Los Angeles County is recording 9.6 per 100,000. A rate above 7.0 places any county in the “purple” tier – Tier 1, the most restrictive tier assigned by the state – which currently bans live audiences from attending outdoor sporting events.
As of April 1, that restriction will be eased to allow 100 people or fewer to attend outdoor games. Only “regional visitors,” defined as living within a 120-mile radius, will be allowed in. Reservations must be made in advance, and no concession or concourse sales will be allowed.
In a statement released by the team Friday, the Angels expect Orange County to reach Tier 2, the “red” tier, by April 1. That would allow them to admit up to 20 percent of the stadium’s capacity (9,010) on Opening Day, including suites at 25 percent occupancy per suite with no more than three households represented in a suite.
Stadiums under the Tier 2 restriction can admit visitors from within the state of California beginning April 1. Concourse sales will not be allowed, but in-seat concessions will.
Angels manager Joe Maddon called the re-opening “really important on a lot of different levels.”
“Baseball players react to adrenaline,” Maddon said. “They’re showmen. You need people in the stands to entertain to really play at the max level. From the general public’s perspective, it will be good to get out to the old ballpark. We are the national pastime.”
“Angels Baseball is grateful that the Office of the Governor, State and Local Health Officials, Major League Baseball and the five MLB Teams in California worked closely to develop plans that safely allow fans into our Ballparks for the start of the 2021 season,” Angels president John Carpino said in a statement. “We are thrilled to welcome fans back safely to the Big A.”
The Dodgers open the season on the road against the Colorado Rockies, giving Los Angeles County an extra nine days to escape the most restrictive tier.
“Any amount of fans is great for all of us, our players,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “As we look at our home opener as we get our World Series rings, to have some fans in the stands would be that much more exciting.”
“On behalf of the Dodger organization and its fans, we want to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to Governor Newsom, his staff and the many others who have worked tirelessly on these revised guidelines which provide a blueprint for California outdoor sports venues to re-open to fans,” Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten said in a statement. “Like the Governor, we’re optimistic that California will continue to make progress in the fight against COVID-19 and that we can safely host fans to start the season. Safety is paramount, and the Dodgers continue to work with local officials and Major League Baseball to finalize protocols to protect players, fans and staff.”
To move to Tier 3, a county must demonstrate a rate of 1 to 3.9 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. Outdoor venues in Tier 3 counties can admit fans at 33 percent of capacity beginning April 1, including suites at 25 percent.
However, if all guests “are tested or show proof of full vaccination,” outdoor venues in Tier 3 counties will be able to admit fans at up to 67 percent of capacity. At Angel Stadium, that would equate to about 30,333 fans; at Dodger Stadium, about 37,333.
Tier 4, the yellow tier, is the lowest-risk tier under the existing state guidelines. To move to Tier 4, a county must demonstrate a rate of less than 1 new COVID-19 case per 100,000 residents. Outdoor venues in Tier 4 counties will no longer require proof of testing or vaccinations to admit fans up to 67 percent of capacity as of April 1.
According to the California Department of Public Health, new restrictions for attending indoor events are “forthcoming.”
Meanwhile, the Major League Soccer regular season is scheduled to begin the weekend of April 16-18. The league is expected to release a schedule in the coming weeks.
In a statement from Galaxy team president Chris Klein and Dignity Health Sports Park general manager Katie Pandolfo, the club “will give Season Ticket Members the first opportunity to return to attending our matches in person.”
LAFC said it plans to announce “health and safety protocols for fans as well as a ticket policy for reduced capacity at Banc of California Stadium soon.”
After the regular season restarted last August, both the Galaxy and LAFC played in front of empty stadiums through the end of the regular season.
Staff Writers Jeff Fletcher, Bill Plunkett and Damian Calhoun contributed to this story.
