Miss watching Steph Curry hit that pre-game tunnel shot?
You now have a chance starting Friday, when the Golden State Warriors will welcome fans back to the stands for a home game against the Denver Nuggets.
Chase Center’s 18,000 seat arena will be limited to 35% capacity, or about 6,300 fans.
It is the first time in over a year that the public has been allowed inside Chase Center.
Every fan will have to show proof that they received their second vaccination at least 14 days ago, or a negative test result from the last 48 hours. Fans who bought their tickets at least a week in advance will receive a free home testing kit sent to their door, and rapid testing will be available on site.
Once inside, people must wear their masks and unlike other sporting venues, they will not be able to eat or drink in their seats; attendees can eat at distanced tables in the concourse or outside.
The team has also updated its HVAC system so that all the air will be flushed out and replaced every 15 minutes.
UCSF epidemiologist Dr. George Rutherford helped the Warriors hammer out a reopening plan late last year.
"I think the other teams are trying to figure this out at the same time. What’s different about the Warriors is they had this figured out in December, but because of the big surges then, people were loath to proceed. But they’ve been working on this for a long time and as I said, Chase Center’s going to be safest place on the face of the earth."
Part of what sets the Warriors apart is that team owner Joe Lacob has a masters’ degree in public health and epidemiology.
Dr. Rutherford said the testing requirement goes a long way to reducing risk.
"Yelling and screaming and singing, if you’re infectious those things create more viral dispersion. But by making sure no one’s infectious when they walk through the door, that’s what’s going to be protective."
