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In-Person Brooklyn Nets Games Restart At Barclays Center On February 23rd
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 10, 2021
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By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 10, 2021
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Brooklyn Nets fans will be able to see their team take on the Sacramento Kings—in person, at the Barclays Center—on February 23rd.
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that large venues for hockey, basketball, football, soccer, baseball, music, and the performing arts can reopen as long as they receive clearance from the state health department and follow certain rules—as the Nets have done.
Venues with a capacity of more than 10,000 spectators can only fill one of every 10 seats. Attendees must also get a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the event and submit to a temperature check at the gate. Face coverings must be worn, and fans must sit in social-distanced seating. The venue will also collect contact tracing information, ensure their filtration system meets standards, and that all food, retail, and sports activities follow state guidelines.
“This hits the balance of safe reopening,” Cuomo said during his Wednesday press conference. He pointed once again to the NFL playoff games the Buffalo Bills held in January as a successful model for how to reopen.
The Bills hosted two playoff games with about 7,000 fans at their home stadium. It typically has a capacity of 71,870 visitors. All fans were required to get a PCR test three days before the game, and the cost of the test was built into the ticket price.
While other NFL teams allowed in-person fans this past football season, the Bills were the only team to require testing. Cuomo said they found no COVID-19 cases were connected to Bills games, and a data firm also couldn’t connect any rise in cases to these sporting events.
The Nets’ last game in front of fans was March 8th, 2020, against the Chicago Bulls.
Cuomo is eager to reopen business sectors—in New York City, indoor dining is returning at 25% on February 12th, and weddings with up to 150 people can resume on March 15th.
The announcement about the Barclays Center comes as Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the arena would soon become a vaccination “mega site” for Brooklyn residents at some point in the future.
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COVID-19
barclays center
coronavirus
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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