Province increases capacity limits at indoor, outdoor sports venues

More fans will be allowed into sports venues just in time for the start of the NHL season and a potential playoff run by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Dr. Kieran Moore, the province’s chief medical officer, has announced capacity limits are expanding for events to 50 per cent for indoor setting, up to a maximum of 10,000 people and 75 per cent for outdoor events to a max of 30,000.

The capacity limits will be increased starting on September 25 at 12:01 a.m. and will also apply to meeting and event spaces, concerts, theatres, and cinemas.

“Increasing capacity limits does not mean we can let our guard down,” said Moore. “We must remain cautious and humble in the face of this Delta variant. Although several of our key indicators are stable and our vaccination rates are among the highest in the world, we must all remain vigilant and continue following the Public Health measures and advice,”

The announcement comes on the heels of the Blue Jays making additional tickets available for next week’s final homestand, starting with Tuesday night’s series opener against the New York Yankees.

Current capacity limits at the Rogers Centre is 15,000 – about one-third of the stadium’s regular 49,000-seat capacity.

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A glance at the team’s online sales seating chart appears to show tickets could be purchased in the stadium’s 500 level for the first time this season and additional seats were available in the 100 and 200 levels.

The Blue Jays require proof of full COVID-19 vaccination for all fans aged 12 and older upon entering Rogers Centre. A negative COVID-19 test is no longer accepted except for individuals with a doctor’s note indicating they can’t receive the vaccine due to medical exemptions.

Files from The Canadian Press were used in this report