Crew fans "began defying social distancing and mask protocols in the later stages" of Sunday's game against FC Cincinnati at Mapfre Stadium, the first professional sporting event in Ohio to allow fans since March, according to Jacob Myers of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. The majority of an estimated 1,500 people "complied by staying in their seats and wearing a mask whenever they were not eating or drinking," but others "kept their masks down around their necks or in their back pockets for most of the second half." Although 1,500 people is about 7.5% of the stadium's capacity, fans "weren't as spread out as that number might indicate because the majority of the upper deck was not open." Fans who sat on the east side of the stadium were "not permitted to cross to the west side." Some fans said that they felt "completely safe and saw stadium ushers reminding fans to wear their masks," while others "saw no enforcement and said they won't return until changes are made." Crew Dir of Communications and Broadcast Tim Miller said that the club is "considering adding signage and announcements to remind fans to wear masks and practice social distancing." Myers notes MLS has "not yet announced the next phase of the regular-season schedule," so the date of the Crew's next home game "is unknown" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 9/9).
