California MLB teams may host limited attendance starting April 1
Baseball fans in California can spend Opening Day at the ballpark.
The California government announced Friday that outdoor venues - including sports events - and other outdoor live performances can resume with fans in attendance beginning April 1, according to Lara Korte of the Sacramento Bee.
April 1 is Opening Day for Major League Baseball. Three of the state's teams - the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels, and Oakland Athletics - have their home openers scheduled for that day. The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers' home openers are both slated for April 9.
Statement from the Los Angeles Dodgers. pic.twitter.com/mbt16I0yym
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 5, 2021
California's ballparks will operate at reduced capacities, and attendance numbers will likely vary depending on what color-coded tier each ballpark is in. California counties are divided into four tiers - purple, indicating a severe spread of COVID-19; red; orange; and yellow - based on the virus' spread in each region.
Stadiums located in the purple tier will be subject to the highest restrictions. Capacity for outdoor events in this tier is limited to 100 people, tickets can be sold only to residents of the specific region, and concession sales are prohibited. Teams in the red tier can open at 20% capacity and sell to all California residents, but not to fans from outside the state.
Counties advancing to the orange tier may open stadiums to one-third capacity, and two-thirds when in yellow.
Of the five California teams, only the Giants (red) play in a county that's not in the purple tier, according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.
Orange County and Los Angeles County, home of the Angels and Dodgers, respectively, are hopeful of advancing to red before next month, according to Shaikin.
Athletics president Dave Kaval said officials expect Alameda County will also move into red by April 1, according to Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Teams are taking other precautions to keep fans safe while at the ballpark. The Athletics announced that tailgating in the Oakland Coliseum parking lot won't be permitted, and all transactions will be cashless and masks are mandatory.