Madison Square Garden felt like another big step towards normal on Sunday night, when 15 thousand fans packed the building to take in the Knicks and Hawks.
Come September, the Giants and Jets will help welcome back a full return.
MetLife Stadium was cleared to open the NFL season at full capacity on Monday, just weeks after New Jersey governor Phil Murphy said there was a “pretty good” chance that NFL games in the state would be able to be played in front of capacity crowds.
Murphy said Monday that there will also be no mask or social distancing requirements as Giants and Jets games.
“We are thrilled by Governor Murphy’s announcement today to have MetLife Stadium operate at full capacity for the 2021 season,” the Giants and Jets said in a joint statement. “We can’t wait to welcome our fans back, creating the gameday atmosphere we have all been missing. We will continue to work to ensure the return of fans is accomplished in a safe and responsible way.”
The approval of 100 percent capacity goes into effect on May 28. The Giants’ first home game in the upcoming season comes in Week 1 against the Broncos on Sept. 12 at 4:25 p.m. The Jets will follow in Week 2, when they host the Patriots on Sept. 19 at 1 p.m.
The NFL has yet to announce its preseason schedule, which would be the first NFL games at MetLife with 100 percent capacity crowds since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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