Sports
Baltimore Orioles To Start Season With Reduced Capacity
The Orioles will play this spring at Camden Yards, with a limited number of fans.
BALTIMORE, MD — The Baltimore Orioles will start the season at 25 percent capacity, the team announced Friday.
"We’re thrilled to welcome you back to Oriole Park," the Orioles said in a statement.
"Along with many health and safety protocols, we will begin the season at 25 percent capacity in order to ensure social distancing and prioritize the safety of all fans," the statement said.
Find out what's happening in Baltimorefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
That means about 11,000 fans will be able to attend games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Safety protocols at Camden Yards will include requiring face coverings, pod seating with 6 feet of distance between fans and digital ticketing. The ballpark will also be going completely cashless to limit touch points.
Find out what's happening in Baltimorefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
We’re thrilled to welcome you back to Oriole Park.
Along with many health and safety protocols, we will begin the season at 25 percent capacity in order to ensure social distancing and prioritize the safety of all fans.
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) March 12, 2021
Before moving forward with reopening, the Orioles teamed with the city in creating its safety plan, according to the mayor.
"The [Baltimore City] health commissioner worked with the Orioles to make sure that they were doing the right thing," Mayor Brandon Scott said at a news conference Friday, where he announced the city would continue to limit businesses to 25 percent capacity in spite of state guidance.
Maryland eased capacity restrictions at outdoor and indoor venues effective at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 12, by order of the governor.
"We look forward to safely welcoming fans back to one of the country’s most iconic ballparks," Gov. Larry Hogan said Friday in a statement of support for the Orioles.
The Orioles will begin the season April 1 against the Boston Red Sox.
The O's home opener in Baltimore will be at 3:05 p.m. on Thursday, April 8.
See Also:
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
