For the first time since 2019, a major league ballpark was packed with fans.
The Texas Rangers had their home opener on Monday at their new Globe Life Park (which opened last year without fans) and marked the first sporting event that allowed for full capacity seating despite still being in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Rangers have faced heavy criticism of their decision to do so, which included President Joe Biden, but fans still made their way into the ballpark seated shoulder to shouder.
It was a bit of a surreal — and for many, uncomfortable — sight to see a packed crowd as fans on social media expressed uneasiness about its the potential to become a super spreader event.
Footage of fans walking around inside the stadium did show several fans wearing masks, at least.
Despite the vaccine rollout, COVID cases have been on the rise in the U.S.
Texas only has 16.1% of its population fully vaccinated — which is less than the nation at the whole, which is only 19% fully vaccinated with 32% receiving at least one does.
Cases in Texas have been trending downward since the beginning of March, though, even after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lifted mask mandates and allowed all businesses to open at full capacity.
It will be interesting to see whether or not a full crowd at Globe Life Park will adversely affect any of those trends.
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