Sports
Yankees, Mets To Segregate Unvaccinated Fans At Home Games
Those inoculated for COVID-19 will be in a separate section of the stadium and will not have to social distance, officials said.
NEW YORK CITY — The Mets and Yankees can increase capacity to 100 percent at their ballparks for home games starting May 19, as along as those attendees are vaccinated against COVID-19. But those not inoculated against the deadly pandemic will have to sit in separate sections.
"Theoretically if you had 100 percent vaccinated, you could fill the entire stadium with 100 percent vaccinated," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a COVID-19 briefing yesterday. "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."
Currently, fans must show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test, but that will be dropped, Cuomo noted. Sections for unvaccinated fans will be at 33 percent capacity and masks will continue to be required.
Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Depending on whether season ticket holders and their guests are vaccinated, seat locations may have to be moved and newly sold tickets will be specified as vaccinated or unvaccinated sections, officials said.
"The main resistance now is people's own 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 actually going to increase the public acceptance level."
Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccination will be offered at the ballparks to attendees and Yankee Team President Randy Levine said at the conference that those who opted for the inoculation would be given a free ticket.
"We also will be giving away Yankee tickets," Mets President Sandy Alderson joked at the end of the conference.
In reality, the Mets will also be giving out their own tickets for those who chose to get inoculated at their ballpark.
Before you go:
- Send a news tip or correction to: russ.crespolini@patch.com
- Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter.
- Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.