BY ALEX MITCHELL
New York State continues
to loosen its COVID-19
guidelines, allowing more
people to get back to doing
some of the things they
love.
That’s particularly good
news for the New York Mets
and Yankees, as Governor
Andrew Cuomo announced
on Monday that the capacity
at outdoor stadiums will increase
from 20% to 33% beginning
on May 19.
“It’s still simple in the final
analysis. It is a virus,” Cuomo said.
“If you take precautions within the
family when someone gets a virus,
you can make sure that other people
don’t get the virus. I look at
New York as an extended family
… we get vaccinated, we behave
smartly, we will control the spread
of the virus.”
At Citi Field in Queens, the capacity
of Mets fans will bump from
8,492 to approximately 14,000
while in the Bronx, the Yankees can
welcome nearly 18,000 — a considerable
bump from the roughly
10,000 they were initially allowing
into the building.
Last week, Cuomo announced
that indoor arenas such as Madison
Square Garden and Nassau
Coliseum will be able to increase
their capacity from 10% to 25%,
also beginning on May 19.
Celebrate Eid at Home
to Stop the Spread of COVID-19
BRONX TIMES R 6 EPORTER, MAY 7-13, 2021 BTR
Hope still remains that sporting
venues will be able to be completely
filled by next season —
most notably for the 2021 NFL
campaign for the New York Giants,
Jets, and Buffalo Bills.
Tim Leiweke, CEO of Oak View
Group — which is overseeing the
building of the New York Islanders’
new home, UBS Arena, at Belmont
Park — said on Thursday that
he believes the 17,000-plus-seat
arena will be at 100% capacity
by opening night this fall for the
2021-22 NHL season.
Aug 29, 2020; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fi elder Brett
Gardner reacts during the third inning against the New York Mets at Yankee
Stadium. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Yankee Stadium,
Citi Field allowed to
bring in more fans:
Governor Cuomo
• Keep your gathering small and
celebrate Eid al-Fitr with household
members only.
• If gathering in a group, wear a snug
fitting face covering to protect the
elderly and vulnerable.
• Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines,
including which groups are currently
eligible to receive one.
Eid Mubarak!
For more information, visit nyc.gov/health/coronavirus.
If you are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, book your
appointment by calling 877-829-4692 (877-VAX-4NYC) or
visiting nyc.gov/vaccinefinder.
Bill de Blasio
Mayor
Dave A. Chokshi, MD, MSc
Commissioner
/coronavirus
/vaccinefinder