ALBANY, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — Any large stadium or arena in New York will be allowed to reopen at 10 percent capacity starting Feb. 23, with testing and other precautions in place.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo made the announcement during a briefing Wednesday.
Fans will be required to provide a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the event.
"The testing to me is key," Cuomo stressed. "I can go see the president of the United States, take a test, and if I pass the test, walk into the Oval Office. Why? Because if you’re negative, you are negative. So the testing is the key."
Face coverings, social distancing and temperature checks will be mandatory.
There will also be mandatory assigned seating.
"While we’re doing vaccines and while we’re controlling the spread of COVID we also have to at the same time get this economy open intelligently and in a balanced way," Cuomo said. "This hits the balance of safe reopening."
He said Barclays Center has already been approved to open that night as the Brooklyn Nets host the Sacramento Kings.
"Using this model they’ve been approved to do that," Cuomo said. "Anyone else who is interested should let us know."
The Islanders, who have yet to be able to have fans in the Nassau Coliseum for their scheduled final season there, put out a statement about the news:
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