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Cuomo: Large-scale outdoor venue capacity increase with new fully vaccinated fan sections starting May 19

Wed, May 5th 2021 04:25 pm

√ Large-scale outdoor events will only be limited by space available for patrons or parties of patrons to maintain required social distance

√ Fully vaccinated attendees at large-scale outdoor events may be seated at full capacity in assigned sections designated solely for fully vaccinated individuals

√ New York State Department of Health will partner with Yankees & Mets to offer COVID-19 vaccinations at games

√ Yankees & Mets to offer free ticket vouchers to New Yorkers who get vaccinated at Yankee Stadium or Citi Field

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced large-scale outdoor event venues will only be limited by the space available for patrons or parties of patrons to maintain the required social distance of 6 feet starting May 19. This will apply to outdoor sports, performing arts and live entertainment, and horse and auto racing venues statewide. Appropriate social distancing, masks and other applicable health protocols will still apply.

Cuomo also announced that, in large-scale outdoor event venues, fully vaccinated attendees may be spaced next to one another, instead of 6 feet apart, in assigned, seated sections that are designated solely for fully vaccinated individuals. Individuals seated in these sections will have to provide proof of full immunization status, which can be provided through paper form, digital application or the state's Excelsior Pass.

By June 19, the state will begin to pilot reduced social distancing at large-scale indoor event venues in assigned, seated sections that are designated solely for fully vaccinated individuals. Young adults and children under the age of 16 who are not yet eligible for the vaccine may accompany and be seated with a vaccinated adult in a fully vaccinated section.

"Our state's positivity and hospitalization rates continue to drop and more people are getting vaccinated, so now it's time to readjust our reopening based on the science and the data," Cuomo said. "The trajectory we are seeing brings us to a point where we can take a major step forward and allow capacity at large-scale outdoor events to only be limited by the space available to maintain the required social distance of 6 feet, with sections designated solely for fully vaccinated individuals where capacity can be 100%. All the arrows are pointed in the right direction, but we can't lose any of the significant progress we've made. We're going to continue focusing on our vaccination efforts, because the more people vaccinated, the better the situation and the closer we get to defeating COVID once and for all."

Vice President of Concerts and Marketing Dave Wedekindt said, “Until such time that social distancing requirements are relaxed, this doesn't have a significant impact for Artpark and our planning for outdoor concerts this season. We are still planning to carry forward with many events for this summer, including the return of amphitheater concerts (such as the just announced Glass Animals concert on Aug. 30), with more concerts to be announced next week. We continue to work closely with New York State officials in revising our policies and procedures as things continue to change, and all events will follow the guidance in place at the time of the event.”

The governor also announced the New York State Department of Health will partner with the Yankees and the Mets to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to attendees at games. The Yankees and the Mets will offer free ticket vouchers to New Yorkers who get vaccinated at Yankee Stadium or Citi Field.

The Yankees will offer ticket vouchers to the first 1,000 fans who receive their COVID-19 vaccine on each full day of vaccination operations and to the first 700 fans on each half day of vaccination operations from May 7 through June 6. Ticket vouchers can be redeemed for two seats to select 2021 or 2022 Yankees regular season home games, subject to availability. More information is available here.

The Mets will offer ticket vouchers to the first 250 fans who receive their COVID-19 vaccine at Citi Field on the day of each Mets home game scheduled from May 24 through June 17. Ticket vouchers can be redeemed for two seats to a 2021 or 2022 Mets regular season home game. More information is available here.

Earlier this week, Cuomo announced what his team called a “significant easing” of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on the region's businesses, venues and gatherings. That includes replacing business capacity limits with space available to maintain 6 feet of social distancing; increasing the outdoor social gathering limit to 500 on May 10 and the indoor social gathering limit to 250 on May 19; removing the outdoor residential gathering limit; and increasing the indoor residential gathering limit to 50 on May 19.

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