(670 The Score) The Cubs and White Sox have received permission from the city of Chicago to have fans in the stands on Opening Day, mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Monday.
The Cubs host the Pirates in their opener at Wrigley Field on April 1. The White Sox won't have their home opener until a week later, when they host the Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 8. Neither team hosted fans in 2020 during the pandemic-altered season.
"As a diehard sports fan myself, I'm personally excited to have Chicago take its first, cautious steps toward safely reopening our beloved baseball stadiums to fans this season," Lightfoot said in a statement. "We're able to do that thanks to the commitment of our city's two great baseball franchises who continue to work in close partnership with Chicago's public health officials to find solutions that are not only safe but offer a path forward toward safely increasing stadium capacity as we move closer into our COVID-19 recovery."
The gradual reopening plan starts at 20% capacity. The Cubs can host 8,274 fans, while the White Sox can host 8,122 fans. There will be pod-style seating to keep groups separate, and there will be many other health and safety protocols in place such as requiring masks, a touchless entry screening process and cashless retail and concession transactions.
"To welcome Cubs fans home to Wrigley Field and bring back one of the joys of spring after a challenging year is incredibly rewarding," Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney said in a statement. "We'd like to thank Governor (J.B.) Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot for their tremendous leadership in carefully navigating this important milestone and partnering with us on our plan to safely return fans to the ballpark. As the city continues on the path to safely reopen, we're excited to finally say, 'Welcome home, Cubs fans!'"
"We are proud of the important and historic role baseball plays in our country, offering respite during some of the most difficult times or in providing fans with a sense of comfort when circumstances seemed uncertain," White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. "We believe this is a moment when baseball can indeed serve our fans and our communities again as we all hope for a gradual return to normal. It's why we applaud Mayor Lightfoot, the leadership role she and Governor Pritzker have played for our city and state, and the decision today — guided by an unwavering commitment to public health and safety — to allow fans to return to Guaranteed Rate Field for Opening Day."
The Cubs will grant season-ticket holders priority access, though seats will be spread out in pods. The team will also have a program for random ticket drawings for the general public. The White Sox will offer priority ticket sales access to season-ticket holders based on tenure and ticket package type. The team will make tickets available to the general public after accommodating season-ticket holders.
