Take me out to the ball game: New York sports and entertainment events in major stadiums and arenas can re-open with limited spectators beginning February 23

ALBANY, NY- After experimenting with allowing some sort of mass gathering with a Buffalo Bills playoff game last month, the Governor’s Office announced Wednesday that events in major stadiums and arenas may begin reopening under specific guidelines and limited attendance starting soon.

"While we continue to fight COVID on multiple fronts, we must also get this economy re-opened intelligently and in a balanced way," Governor Cuomo said.

"Live sports and entertainment have long been engrained in the fabric of New York and the inability to hold events has only added to the isolation we have all felt at the hands of this virus. Thankfully, our pilot program to reopen Buffalo Bills games to fans was an unparalleled success and now we are taking that model and expanding it to other large venues across the state to not only reinvigorate local economies, but also help bring some fun and joy back into people's lives as safely as possible."

These types of events will begin under guidelines starting Tuesday, February 23 as long as venues follow this checklist: 

-Obtain DOH approval for both venues and events

-Institute a 10 percent capacity limit in arenas and stadiums

-Ensure all staff and spectators receive a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of the event

-Mandate face coverings, social distancing and temperature checks for all those in attendance

-Mandate assigned, socially distanced seating

-Collect contact information from all those in attendance to help inform contact tracing efforts

-Meet enhanced air filtration, ventilation and purification standards

-Ensure retail, food services and athletic activities abide by all state-issued guidance

Photo by Brian Trainor: Yankee Stadium; May, 2018.