Editor’s note: This story was published before the city adopted the state’s latest guidelines.
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Sixers, Phillies and Flyers are eager to get fans back in the stands.
“Hooray, yay, I’m happy,” Doc Rivers said Monday before his Sixers beat the Indiana Pacers 130-114 at the Wells Fargo Center.
Rivers was responding to the news that Pennsylvania has loosened more COVID-19 restrictions, allowing large indoor venues to host 15% capacity and large outdoor venues 20% capacity, regardless of venue size.
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Philadelphia also recently eased restrictions back to the state standard, which took effect on Monday.
The city operates separately from the rest of the state. City officials had said they will consider updating to this latest state standard on indoor and outdoor gatherings, but they have not yet made a decision.
In order for the Sixers and Flyers to host fans, they need the city to further ease its restrictions and increase occupancy limits.
“We’re ready to safely welcome fans back to Broad Street, and as soon as the city further eases its restrictions, we will have Flyers and 76ers fans in the building within days,” Valerie Camillo, president of business operations for the Flyers and Wells Fargo Center, said in a statement.
Camillo said they’re talking directly with city officials. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney acknowledged on Monday that the city is reviewing the state’s loosening of limits.
“We will try to get as close as we can, if not there, with what the governor’s recommending because things are getting better,” Kenney said while defending the city’s reputation that it’s “too strict.”
“Everybody has an interest,” he continued. “Everybody has a dog in the fight, but if you don’t stay steady even when you’re getting criticized, you can have what happens to Florida and Texas and Arizona. That didn’t happen here.”
Meanwhile, in Clearwater, Phillies manager Joe Girardi praised the state’s actions during NBC Sports Philadelphia’s telecast of the spring training game against the Orioles. “I’m thankful to the commonwealth of Pennsylvania because that’s fantastic. It just looks right with people in the stands. I know we’re used to seeing a packed house down here and in Philadelphia, but this is better than no fans.”
The Phils are welcoming a limited amount of fans to BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater for spring games.
“Playing with no fans in the stands last year really made us appreciate them,” Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola said. “You really don’t realize it until you don’t have what you have.”
“We want to see our fans here,” Rivers added.
The last time the Sixers hosted fans at the Wells Fargo Center was March 11, 2020 — the night the NBA suspended its season after Utah’s Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.
Rivers coached the Los Angeles Clippers last season, so the first game fans are permitted back will be the first time he’ll coach the Sixers in front of an audience.
“We have proven here in Philadelphia that it is a home court,” he said. “Our fans are phenomenal. We need them here. It would awesome in the second half of the season if we could have fans. I think it would really boost us.”