Limited fans to be allowed at MLS match at Rentschler
There will be a maximum of 5,000 fans allowed at Rentschler Field when Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC plays Inter Miami CF on Nov. 1.
Toronto FC, which leads all MLS teams with 38 points in 18 matches during the current phase of play, has been playing its home matches without any fans in the stands in East Hartford due to COVID-19related restrictions on U.S. teams flying in and out of Canada.
“We look forward to having some fans in the stands for our final regular-season game in East Hartford,” Toronto FC President Bill Manning said in a release. “Toronto FC is so grateful to the state of Connecticut and everyone at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field for providing us with such an outstanding facility during this unique stretch of games. Our players feel the support already and having some fans will make it even better.”
The attendance will be capped at 5,000 in the 38,000-seat stadium. Select seating will be available in both the lower and upper bowls of the stadium. Masks or face coverings will be required and social distancing guidelines outlined by the state will be enforced.
“We’ve consulted with state and local public health officials and as long as certain health protocols are met, we believe that having a limited audience can safely be done, especially considering that this is an outdoor stadium,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement. “I look forward to the day when we can fill the Rent back up to capacity. I appreciate Toronto FC and Major League Soccer for working with our administration so that we could make this happen.”
Toronto is 2-0-1 at Rentschler Field and will host Atlanta United FC on Sunday and New York City FC on Oct. 28.
Tickets will go on sale on Monday at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at www.rentschlerfield.com. No decision has been made about having a limited number of fans in attendance in the event that Toronto gets to host any games in the playoffs.
The last time fans were at an MLS game at Rentschler Field was on Sept. 23, 2017, when New York City FC played Houston to a 1-1 tie in front of 10,165 spectators, after a scheduling conflict resulted in the game being moved out of Yankee Stadium.
“I had heard that there was some discussion about that going on,” Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney said on a video call with the media on Friday. “I would lean on the health professionals and our people who are involved in those discussions as to whether it was safe, was it the right thing to do? For us, we will be isolated from them so in terms of protecting our group, we will be distanced, we will be fine.
“In the small picture of things, is it nice to have fans in the stands? Sure, only if it’s safe and it makes sense for everybody involved.”
Vanney said it was possible that midfielder Michael Bradley, one of three players with more than 150 appearances with the U.S. national team, could be available to play Sunday. A knee injury has kept Bradley out of action since early September.