Arenas in New York Set to Reopen with 10% Capacity
Two major arenas in New York City are in the preparation mode to reopen next week to host sporting events. The news came after Governor Andrew Cuomo allows the reopening of stadiums and arenas across the state for crowds and audiences but was limited to only 10% of space’s overall capacity.
According to him, it is not possible for businesses to stay closed till the time when the vaccine reaches everyone. While announcing the rule change on Wednesday, he said that there are emotional, economic, and psychological liabilities added to the indefinite closure.
There is still no news regarding music concert bookings for Madison Square Garden in Manhattan or Barclays Centre in Brooklyn. However, the stadiums will open for sporting events as of now. They reopen on the 23rd of February that will host 2,000 audiences seated in two-seat while maintaining social distancing protocol. Ticket holders must show proof of negative contraction on a PCR COVID-19 test ticket that must be taken 72 hours before the event. The rule also applies to those who have been already vaccinated.
Audiences will be screened through temperature check and must be below 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit to be eligible for entry. They also must wear masks throughout their time inside except for when they are eating and drinking out of their assigned seats. Food and beverages can be purchased from the venue cashless with credit card or mobile payments systems.
MSG included another rule asking audiences to take a health survey 12 hours before the event on their app. Employees at the facilities will go through tests regularly.
Andrew Lustgarten, president and chief executive officer of MSG Sports and president of MSG in an interview with Billboard said that the team is thrilled to welcome audiences back to the ground starting off with Knicks and Rangers games. He also shared that although they have limited seating as of now, the team is focusing on providing a safe environment while maintaining strict protocols as imposed by health and state officials.
Season ticket holders are the priority during ticket distribution. On February 23, Barclays Centre will host a game between Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings while on the same day, MSG will be hosting a game between the Knicks and the Golden State Warriors.
Doors at the MSG will open 90 minutes before the start of the game during which fans will be assigned to their seats. Tickets are available in two-seat pods starting at $50, apiece.
The news came through Live Nation chief executive Michael Rapino’s official tweet.
The reopening of the grounds after a year of lockdown has the whole nation excited and anticipating live games. The aforementioned rules apply to all stadiums across the nation although many of them such as Time Union Center in Albany and the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester does not have any upcoming events on their calendar until May. Stay tuned and stay updated for more information.
I am Darryl Broadhurst and i give investors an insight into the most recent news hitting the “Technology” sector in Wall Street. I have been an independent financial adviser for over 11 years in the city and in recent years turned my experience in finance and passion for journalism into a full time role. I perform analysis of Companies and publicizes valuable information for shareholder community.
