Jackets seek approval to have fans at games this season
The wheels are officially in motion. The Dispatch has confirmed that the Blue Jackets have applied with state health officials for approval to host a limited number of fans this season at Nationwide Arena — similar to what the Ohio Department of Health has approved for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The application process will include the Franklin County Health Department and does not include a set timetable for a decision, despite NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly telling reporters Monday that fans in the Columbus and Pittsburgh markets might “soon” be able to attend games.
The 2021 season, which has been reduced to 56 games, will begin Wednesday amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shown no sign of relenting in the United States. Most of the NHL'S 31 teams plan to start out with no fans in attendance, but the Arizona Coyotes, Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers will allow a limited number of spectators.
The ODH initially approved the Cavaliers to host 300 fans per game and then increased it to 10% of Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse's capacity with a Dec. 29 variance, which went into effect Monday and clears the way for up to 1,944 fans per game.
That is about half of the number the Cavaliers hoped to get approved, after initially seeking permission to allow 4,596 into the building.
Nationwide Arena's capacity for hockey games is 18,500, which means 1,850 fans per game could attend if the ODH were to apply the same 10% cap on attendance.
The Cavaliers' ODH approval also stipulates that no more than six fans may sit together and must be part of the same family or group — all seated 6 feet apart. The same applies to those in suites. The variance said the use of plastic barriers will be considered as an alternative measure for the 6-foot mandate.
Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse was required to raise the height of its concourse ceiling by 3 feet, and ODH director Stephanie Mccloud noted its “state-of-theart” HVAC air-filtration system. Nationwide Arena has a similar HVAC system, but it's unknown whether the facility will need any physical changes to gain approval.
The Blue Jackets open the 2021 season Thursday in Nashville. Their home opener is slated for Jan. 21 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the reigning Stanley Cup champion.
Up for grabs
The competition for a role on the Blue Jackets' third defense pairing is wide open.
Coach John Tortorella said he's still looking for players to stand out among a group that includes Dean Kukan, Andrew Peeke, Scott Harrington and Michael Del Zotto, a veteran offensive defenseman who used a professional tryout to earn a one-year, two-way contract.
“I don't think anybody has separated themselves, as far as claiming that (fifth and sixth defenseman) spot, so we'll have the discussions prior to our first game, see what happens,” Tortorella said. “But that, to me, is still a position that could be moved in and out as each game goes by, depending on what happens in (each) game.”
bhedger@dispatch.com