The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Hartford Athletic’s home opener limited to 25 percent capacity
Little by little, Connecticut residents are getting a chance to experience live sports again.
The New Britain Bees baseball team and Stratford Brakettes softball squad are among those allowing fans to attend games with plenty of safety precautions in place due to COVID-19.
While the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun and Major League Lacrosse’s Connecticut Hammerheads will play the entire 2020 season outside the state, the USL Championship league’s Hartford Athletic announced on Tuesday that a limited number of fans will be allowed into Monday’s home opener.
Dillon Stadium in Hartford — which holds 5,500 — will be limited to 25 percent capacity when the Athletic face Loudon United FC on Monday at 7 p.m. in a match shown live on ESPN2.
Here are some of the other guidelines to keep fans, players and staff safe: ⏩ Staff, vendors and fans will not be permitted to enter the stadium without wearing a mask. Masks must be worn at all times in the stadium except while consuming food and beverage.
⏩ Non-touch ticket scanners will be used by all ticket scanners.
⏩ All concessions will be in individual packaging or containers.
⏩ All in-stadium purchases will be completely cashless and contactless payment.
⏩ Bathroom attendants will be stationed in every available restroom to consistently wipe down and sanitize touch points as well as manage social distancing and queues.
⏩ Tailgating will be phohibited in all lots and there will be no post-game autograph sessions.
“After months of hard work and collaboration with local and state government, we look forward to safely opening our doors to our loyal and dedicated fans this season,” Hartford Athletic Chairman Bruce Mandell said in a release. “Thank you to everyone behind the scenes who has worked tirelessly to put together a plan that will allow our fans to safely attends matches this season and for the impressive leadership from our local and state officials. Coach [Radhi] Jaidi, our players, and our whole organization cannot wait to return to play at home on July 20.”
The Major League Lacrosse, played exclusively at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md ., begins with three games on Saturday, including the Hammerheads facing Denver. After the six teams face each opposing squad once, the top four advance to the July 25 semifinals with the championship game set for July 26.
The WNBA season begins with three games on July 25. The first contest will feature former UConn star Breanna Stewart and the Seattle Storm playing the New York Liberty at noon. The Connecticut Sun’s first game is against Minnesota on July 26 at noon. That contest will air on ESPN. All the WNBA games will be played at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.