FILE: Overhead look at Smith's Ballpark in Salt Lake City, Utah. (KSL-TV, Chopper 5. )
SALT LAKE CITY — Fans will be allowed to enter the ballpark for a Salt Lake Bees game for the first time in 2021 Thursday night.
The stands will not fill, though, as they will only admit 3,200 fans to start. Masks are still required for spectators unless you are eating or drinking.
Fans are being allowed back into sporting activities as the state’s so-called endgame legislation is implemented and public health orders are eliminated. This is going to mean more decisions will have to be made about how many spectators can be in the stands for different sporting events across the state.
Real Salt Lake is working with health officials as they try to determine how many fans they can let return in person.
The Utah Jazz will now allow 6,700 fans, an increase from 5,500 fans, into the Vivint Smart Home Arena. That represents a recent increase in the number allowed. It’s unknown if that number will go up before this season ends for the Jazz.
College sports such as BYU and Utah will also have to evaluate bringing fans back live, BYU is saying they are planning on fans being there this fall. What is in question is how many fans will be able to attend.
This is a trend the Salt Lake Bees players and fans can all be excited about.
Jo Adell, Salt Lake Bees outfielder, told KSL TV he welcomes this first Bees game in well over a year.
Adell was one of 60 players selected for the Los Angeles Angels pool last year, as minor league teams went on hiatus. As a result, he hit his first career home run with no fans in the stands under pandemic sports rules.
“I’m looking forward to it, I’m looking forward to a little bit of that normalcy coming back,” Adell said.