SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A recent survey sent by the San Diego Padres to season ticket holders may offer a look into what fans can expect for the 2021 season.
The email largely touched on whether or not fans will be comfortable attending games with safety protocols in place.
Some of the questions to fans included, "what is your current level of concern regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?" and "do you believe Padres games at Petco Park in 2021 will be safe to attend, unsafe to attend, or is it too early to know?"
The survey also asked what fans their likelihood of attending games under several protocols "likely" to be in place next season, including:
- Socially distant pods of seats
- Contactless entry
- Mandatory face coverings
- Mobile concessions ordering and pickup
- Contactless payments
- Sanitation stations
- Plexiglass installed in areas close to players, and
- Increased surface cleaning.
According to the Padres, details of what next season will look like for players and fans are still being formulated.
"Unfortunately, we are not able to share any information at this time. With the evolving nature of the virus and ever-changing state and local regulations, we have not yet finalized our attendance plans or health and safety protocols for the 2021 season. Once definitive plans are in place closer to Opening Day, we will be sure to share the various elements with our fans," a statement from a team spokesperson said.
Tuesday, Major League Baseball announced an agreement with the MLB Players Association for COVID-19 and safety protocols for next season. Among those protocols were:
- Mandatory 5-day at-home quarantine prior to players coming to spring training
- Ten-day isolation period required for individuals who test positive for COVID-19
- Face coverings worn at all times when inside club facilities, dugouts, during travel, and during group workouts or practices
- League-wide code of conduct banning certain high-risk activities outside of the ballpark
"We were able to complete a successful and memorable 2020 season due to the efforts and sacrifices made by our players, club staff and MLB employees to protect one another," MLB said in its announcement on Tuesday. "The 2021 season will require a redoubling of those efforts as we play a full schedule with increased travel under a non-regionalized format. We have built on last year’s productive collaboration between MLB and the Players Association by developing an enhanced safety plan with the consultation of medical experts, infectious disease specialists, and experts from other leagues."
The league's announcement did not touch on any protocols related to having fans in attendance.
According to California's reopening tier system, fans at live sports events are not allowed until a county reaches the orange (moderate) tier, and will be capped at 20% and assigned seating to start. Those restrictions loosen in the yellow tier, but still cap attendance:
Orange Tier (moderate):
- Open with modifications
- Permanent venues with live audiences outdoors only
- Capacity must be limited to 20%
- Reservations required
- Assigned seating only
- In-seat concessions only (no concourse sales)
- Regional attendees only (within 120 miles)
Yellow Tier (minimal):
- Open with modifications
- Permanent venues with live audiences outdoors only
- Capacity must be limited to 25%
- Reservations required
- Assigned seating only
- In-seat concessions only (no concourse sales)
- Regional attendees only (within 120 miles)
