The opening day at Fenway Park is not far away, and it now looks like there will be some baseball fans in the stands watching it.
Governor Charlie Baker announced Thursday that the state will reopen major venues on March 22, including the arenas where Boston’s pro sports teams play: Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium and TD Garden.
The reopening comes as the state plans to move to phase 4, step 1 of the plan outlined last spring in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, as long as the data continues to show a positive downward trend.
“Opening day is in our near future,” Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito told a news conference on Thursday.
This applies to places that can accommodate more than 5,000 people. They will be expected to work at 12 percent, and they will have to submit a plan to the state Department of Public Health about the precautions being implemented.
The announcement comes as Baker also lifted restrictions on many other businesses, which will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity (compared to the 40 percent capacity now in place) starting Monday when the state moves to Phase 3, Step 2.
The decision, which reflects a steady decline in COVID-19 rates in the state over the past few weeks, follows the decision of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to reopen these places in this state, with a capacity limit of ten percent in arenas and stadiums.
The Red Sox open the season at Fenway Park on April 1 against the Orioles. The Celtics’ first home game after March 22 is on the 29th against the Pelicans. The Bruins will face the Islanders on March 23 in TD Garden. The usual season for the Revolution has yet to be launched.
What still needs to be addressed, Baker said Thursday, is how teams will play in places where vaccinations are also offered. Fenway and Gillette were the first mass vaccination sites in the state.
“They are important players in this vaccine effort,” he said. “We’re going to try to figure that one out.”
Baker has kept the major arenas hosting the most popular teams in the region closed, and since the Massachusetts pandemic last March, has been keeping a close eye on the capacity for events of all sizes.
Jon Chesto can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @jonchesto. Katie McInerney can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @ k8tmac. Michael Silverman can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @MikeSilvermanBB.