DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Fans will be welcomed back to PPG Paints Arena and PNC Park, starting immediately after the commonwealth of Pennsylvania lifted some restrictions on mass gatherings Monday.
Gov. Tom Wolf announced that outdoor events will now be allowed to have to 20% of the maximum occupancy, no matter size venue. Indoor venues will be permitted to allow up to 15% capacity.
The Penguins announced that fans will be welcomed back starting with their game against the Flyers on Tuesday, the first of 20 home games remaining this season, 12 of them in March.
“It is a great day for hockey, indeed, and we are very excited for our fans,” said David Morehouse, president and CEO of the Penguins. “We are grateful to Governor Wolf, Health Secretary Alison Beam and their team for their continuous communication and support. We also are thankful for the help and guidance we received from our partners at UPMC for helping us to prepare a detailed plan for a safe re-opening, as well as County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto. We are focused on giving our fans the safest and most efficient experience possible inside PPG Paints Arena – where they belong.”
The Pirates said they will announce details around ticket availability in the coming days. The club is still working through protocols before they can announce how many people will be permitted into the stadium, and that it is not accurate to just assume 20% of the maximum capacity will be allowed.
Their home opener is April 8 against the Cubs.
“Even though our capacity will be limited, Opening Day 2021 will truly be like no other,” Pirates team president Travis Williams said. “It will be much more than a game. It will mark a significant step in overcoming this pandemic. We cannot wait to open PNC Park and host our fans for a summer-long celebration of reconnecting with family and friends around Pirates baseball.”
A Pittsburgh team has not played before a capacity crowd since March, 8, 2020 when the Penguins lost to Carolina at PPG Paints Arena. The Steelers and the University of Pittsburgh football teams were able to hosts fans at several midseason games last year before COVID-19 cases spiked and the clubs finished their campaigns behind closed doors.