The Union "will become the first sports team in the Philadelphia area to host fans at a game during the coronavirus pandemic when they open the gates of Subaru Park" for Sunday's 7:30pm ET game against the Impact, according to Jonathan Tannenwald of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. The state of Pennsylvania now is permitting venues with capacities above 10,000 to fill 15% of occupancy, up to 7,500 people total. At 18,500-seat Subaru Park, that "means a total of 2,775 people, including both teams and all stadium staff." All seats available are "spaced out so there's six feet of distance between any purchased set," which "would mean an estimated crowd of 1,960 fans." The first eight rows of seats in each section "will be blocked off, and all rows with available seats have a maximum of two blocks open." That means fans "won't have to cross each other's paths in rows." Fans "will have to sign a waiver of liability upon purchasing their tickets" and "won't be allowed in" if they do not do so. There "will be specific entry points into the seating bowl with one-way access." The team "suggests that fans in higher rows of the stands enter the stadium 60 minutes before kickoff and fans in lower rows enter 30 minutes before kickoff." When the game is over, the Union "will enforce staggered exits from the stands by section." Fans "must stay in their seats until their section is called over the public address system, with two sections called at a time" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/8).
GETTING CLOSER: Timbers Owner & CEO Merritt Paulson said that he "wants to host fans at Providence Park sooner than later." Paulson in a tweet wrote, "Oregon has managed COVID well. We have the 2nd lowest infection rate in the country. We can 100% safely manage a limited crowd. Hopefully, we will get a chance in 2020." In Portland, Dylan Mickanen notes the Timbers "have not had any fans at Providence Park since a 1-0 victory over Nashville SC" on March 8. The Timbers "have held one of the league's strongest home-field advantages for seasons, currently holding a 163-game sellout streak" (NBCSPORTSNORTHWEST.com, 10/8).
