Large stadiums, arenas in NY can reopen to fans: Live sports, music, shows can return - syracuse.com

Albany, N.Y. — Large stadiums and arenas in New York can reopen for events with in-person fans starting Feb. 23, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today.

Hockey, basketball, football, soccer, baseball, music, shows and performances can all return to the spaces, Cuomo said during a press conference in Albany.

The new rules only apply to venues with a total capacity of over 10,000 people. They’ll be allowed to reopen for in-person events with a 10% capacity limit.

All attendees will be required to test negative for Covid-19 through a PCR test within 72 hours of the event.

Masks, social distancing and temperature checks will be required. Assigned seating will also be required.

The state Health Department will have to approve all venues and events.

Venues holding events must collect contact information from attendees to aid contact tracing efforts and they must also meet air filtration, ventilation and purification standards.

Retail, food services and athletic activities inside the venues by follow all state-issued guidance.

The Barclays Center in Brooklyn will be among the first venues to take advantage of the new rules, Cuomo said. The arena will reopen to fans for the Brooklyn Nets’ Feb. 23 against the Sacramento Kings.

“This hits the balance of safe reopening,” Cuomo said. “This is a difficult time on many, many levels. Personally it’s very difficult, emotionally it’s difficult, economically it’s difficult. But we are finding the balance and we are going to be the better for it.”

The new rules would appear to be good news for Syracuse University. The school has developed a plan to bring back 1,500 fans back to the Carrier Dome for sporting events during the pandemic.

Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack has said the protocol could be implemented quickly. Students would likely be the first to return.

New York began moving toward reopening arenas and stadiums last month when it allowed thousands of fans at two Buffalo Bills home playoff games. All attendees were tested ahead of time.

Cuomo has said contact tracing after the games found no evidence they spread the coronavirus.

Cuomo also spoke of using testing as a way to reopen some venues during his State of the State address in January.

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Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

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