The Rochester Red Wings say their new seating plan looks sort of like a jigsaw puzzle...but under new state guidelines, the team can let fans back into Frontier Field for opening day on May 18th.
General Manager Dan Mason says they're scrambling to set up sections for vaccinated and unvaccinated people under new guidelines, issued Wednesday, that allow stadiums unrestricted seating for people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Unvaccinated people will have to sit in special sections with six-foot distancing, which will allow far fewer of them to attend. You'll still have to wear a mask in the stadium and the team store, but you can take it off once you're in your seat.
Mason says the state issued a waiver allowing the Wings to implement the new guidance a day early. He credits Chamber of Commerce CEO and former Lt. Governor Bob Duffy, as well as Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, with convincing the Cuomo Administration to grant the waiver. For the Mets and Yankees...and the rest of New York's minor league teams...this begins on May 19th, a day later.
This should allow the Red Wings to come much closer to filling the more than 14,000 seat capacity at Frontier Field.