It was announced Friday by California officials that the state will allow people to attend Major League Baseball stadiums again and other outdoor entertainment venues. Friday’s announcement came with the news that the reopening and new rules take into effect starting April 1. 

Reopening Plan Limited to CA Only

With the reopening, it allows the Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels, and Los Angeles Dodgers to reopen their ballparks. Despite the huge announcement, the plan will only take into effect those living in California. In other words, only fans from California will be allowed to attend these stadiums. 

Teams have up to this point been notified to only sell tickets to those who live in the state. The reason being in an attempt to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and limit the mixing of people from other states who may potentially bring the virus with them. 

Colored Tiers Affect The Plans Capacity

Amongst the plan to reopen, it is important to be reminded of the California colored-tiers which do take an effect on the reopening plan. The purple tier, the most limiting, followed along by the red, orange, and then yellow tier before normalcy. 

In the reopening plan announced Friday, those counties in the purple tier will only allow 100 people in stadium. The red tier will allow 20% capacity, followed by 33% capacity in the orange tier, and 67% in the yellow tier. 

A reopening plan set in the purple tier would only allow teams to sell tickets within the county regionally. Meanwhile, all other tiers allow for California MLB teams to sell tickets statewide. As for food/concessions, they will not be allowed in the purple tier, but limited in the others to only at spectator’s seats.

A Whole New Experience

Specific rules that teams may want to enforce, will be up to each team separately. As for concessions, the Oakland A’s already announced they will allow fans to order from their phones. This will be delivered into their seats. As for other teams as well, given the plan, no fans will be allowed to pay with cash. So, for those who may not have a debit card, they may make a purchase to use one for that game to order whatever they need. 

It was also announced that teams will only be allowing fans to go to games in small groups. Along with that, no tailgating will be allowed.

The plan is set just in time for MLB Opening Day which is set to be April 1. Up to this point, only the A’s, Padres, and Angels announced they will have fans back for Opening Day. As for the Giants and Dodgers, both start the season away from California. They announced they will release plans in further detail at a later date.