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It’s been almost a year to the day that fans last were last permitted to attend a game at the Wells Fargo Center on Broad Street, with the stadium closing to fans after a Sixers game on March 14, 2020. This Sunday, though, all of that will change — with Gov. Tom Wolf’s newly released COVID-19 guidelines, 3,100 fans will be allowed into the stadium to watch the Flyers take on the Washington Capitals.
Wolf announced new guidelines on Monday, March 1, surrounding indoor and outdoor events. Effective immediately, outdoor events will be allowed to operate at 20 percent capacity and indoor events can operate at 15 percent capacity. That means that the Flyers, Sixers, and Phillies have announced plans to welcome fans back, with Citizens Bank Park holding its scheduled Opening Day with 8,800 fans on Thursday, April 1 and the Sixers allowing 3,100 into their home game on Sunday, March 14.
What does this mean for the sports fans returning to the stands? The Wells Fargo Center has laid out plans to make sure spectators are keeping themselves and stadium workers (and Gritty) safe. Here’s the latest:
- Masks are required for everyone over the age of two years old
- Before entering the building, fans must complete a health assessment that will ask about potential exposure and symptoms
- Fans must maintain a standard six feet of social distance at all times
- Bags of any kind are not permitted inside the venue
- Visitors will be seated in pods with their accompanying guests
- Food and drink orders are cashless and can be ordered on cell phones; for people who prefer cash, so-called “reverse ATMS” are available to load cash onto pre-paid debit cards
- Fans must remain in seats while eating or drinking, and alcohol will only be served in the same transaction as a meal
Food service workers are part of the 1b category in Philadelphia’s vaccine rollout and are eligible now for the COVID-19 vaccine in the city, while maintenance workers are not eligible until phase 1c.
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