Yard Goats begin offering tickets

Team expects Dunkin’ Donuts Park to be halffilled in May for season

Tim Restall had to do some heavy lifting Tuesday, and he couldn’t have been happier.

“I have to go pull the tarp ... for the first time in a year and a half,” the Yard Goats president said.

It was a sure sign Hartford’s minor-league baseball franchise will soon be back in business. Another good sign, an email sent out to ticket holders Monday. Fans who bought or were gifted tickets for the canceled 2020 season will get the first chance to redeem their credit for seats when the ‘21 season starts May 11.

The tarp at Dunkin’ Donuts Park had been in place since August 2019. The franchise’s front office staff, furloughed after the ‘20 season was canceled, is back and at work preparing for the new season. It will be a week or two before tickets go on sale for the general public.

“We’re excited to be welcoming fans back,” Restall said. “We’re excited to be playing baseball again. We’ll have more details in the next couple of weeks about what it’s going to look like.”

The Yard Goats are still gathering information from state and city health officials but are expecting to operate Dunkin’ Donuts Park at 50 percent capacity, or about 3,000 fans per game, as the season begins. Fans will be able to sit in pods of up to six, with six feet distance between pods with masks to be worn unless actively eating or drinking.

“We plan to put tickets on sale to the general public in the coming weeks but wanted to make sure you had a chance to secure your seats first,” the email read. “At this time, we are only issuing tickets for the 12 games in May. (May 11-16 and 18-23). Tickets for the rest of

the season will go on sale at a later date.”

The Yard Goats are offering some new seating options: Bud Sky Bar & Travelers Patio & Tine

Dale Party Porch, with tables of four for $88. Field box sections 101-104 and 119-121 are $14 each but very limited. Outfield premium swivel- chair sections 122-128 and 224-230 are available for $13 each and right field porch sections 125-128 and 224-230 will be available at $10 each.

The Goats will again be the Double A affiliate of the Rockies, their agreement surviving the massing restructuring of minor league baseball that has taken place since the 2019 season ended. The team averaged 6,193 fans per game in 2019, 6,044 in 2018.