The Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced changes to the city’s coronavirus restrictions on Friday.
As of March 1, there will be a limit of 2,500 people at outdoor sporting events and 500 people at indoor sporting events.
This signals that a limited number of Phillies fans can return to Citizens Bank Park to attend the team in person on April 1 at the opening of the season against Braves, after a regular 2020 season with no fans in the stands.
“This is a step closer to getting back to normal,” said health commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley.
Fans cannot watch the Sixers and Flyers games yet. The Wells Fargo Center said in a statement on Friday that fans would be allowed to return as soon as the city and state lifted restrictions to increase occupation. The internal limit of 500 includes employees and would not be feasible yet.
“The arena already requires several hundred employees, including building operations staff and staff, players, coaches, medical support, broadcasters and others to host games without fans,” says part of the statement. “To welcome fans back to the arena, more than 500 employees would be needed at the venue.
The Wells Fargo Center is optimistic that fans will return sometime in March.
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