CHICAGO — After playing in empty ballparks last season, the Chicago Cubs and White Sox will welcome fans back through the turnstiles starting Opening Day, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced on Monday.
Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field will open up at 20 percent capacity when the Cubs and Sox start the season next month. The Cubs open the season April 1 against the Pittsburgh Pirates and will be able to seat 8,274 fans, while the Sox will open up their home slate April 8 against the Kansas City Royals in front of 8,122 fans.
In making the announcement, Lightfoot — a Sox season-ticket holder — said she is allowing fans to return after the city made significant progress in dealing with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Folks, we've significantly slowed the spread of COVID, getting our positivity rate down to 2.8%. And now, we can begin to safely welcome fans back to our baseball stands on opening day. Although we're reopening, masking is still of utmost importance. pic.twitter.com/pkGnMDkSUc
— Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) March 8, 2021
"As a die-hard sports fan myself, I'm personally excited to have Chicago take its first, cautious steps toward safely reopening our beloved baseball stadiums to fans this season," Lightfoot said in a news release. "We're able to do that thanks to the commitment of our city's two great baseball franchises who continue to work in close partnership with Chicago's public health officials to find solutions that are not only safe but offer a path forward toward safely increasing stadium capacity as we move closer into our COVID-19 recovery."
Both ballparks will have pods of seats that allow fans to remain 6 feet apart from one another and will feature entry points that have limited contact between fans and ballpark personnel. Both parks will also feature cashless concession stands, additional restrooms and reconfigured concourses to make the game experience as safe as possible. Masks will be required for all fans over the age of 2.
Bags will not be permitted at Guaranteed Rate Field, except for small clutch purses, medical bags or diaper bags for fans with infants. Several promotions, including fireworks and $1 hot dog Wednesdays, have been postponed until further notice, the Sox announced in a news release.
In a tweet on Monday, Lightfoot said, "Let's play ball, Chicago."
Both teams welcomed the announcement.
"We are proud of the important and historic role baseball plays in our country, offering respite during some of the most difficult times or in providing fans with a sense of comfort when circumstances seemed uncertain," Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. "We believe this is a moment when baseball can indeed serve our fans and our communities again as we all hope for a gradual return to normal."
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts agreed.
"The return of fans is incredibly meaningful to our players, our City and the game we all love," Ricketts said. "Nothing can replace the energy and enthusiasm our beloved fans bring to the Friendly Confines each and every game. We're ready and excited for our much-anticipated Wrigley Field reunion."
A Cubs spokesman told the Chicago Sun-Times that season ticket-holders would get priorityfor the just more than 8,200 seats that will be open to fans on the city's North Side. The team will announce a pre-sale access program on Tuesday that will give other fans a chance at Wrigley tickets, similar to the ticket plan the Cubs have used for postseason tickets in the past, the newspaper reported Monday. However, the priority will be given to those fans who that spokesman Julian Green characterized as "the most loyal customers who have supported our business."
Ald. Tom Tunney, whose ward includes Wrigley Field, told the Sun-Times he hopes the 20 percent limitation is just the beginning. He cited the fact restaurants in the city are permitted now to operate at 50 percent capacity for indoor dining.
Cubs manager David Ross, whose team won a National League Central Division title last season during last year's shortened 60-game season, said he looks forward to having fans back in the Friendly Confines.
"You can't get better than that — fans back in the stands," Ross told reporters in Arizona on Monday.
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