SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Giants are optimistic that they’ll have more than cardboard cutouts in the stands at Oracle Park in 2021.
Under the latest state guidelines announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday, outdoor stadiums will be permitted to host a limited number of fans beginning on April 1, meaning the Giants will likely have spectators in attendance when they play the Rockies in their home opener on April 9. San Francisco County moved from the purple tier to the red tier earlier this week, which would enable the Giants to fill Oracle Park up to 20 percent capacity -- roughly 8,000 fans -- for home games.
“The Giants are very encouraged by Governor Newsom’s announcement today updating state guidelines that would permit fans to attend baseball games at Oracle Park, subject to final approval by local health officials,” the club said in a statement. “The updated state guidelines for ballparks and other outdoor venues allow for a limited number of fans seated in socially-distanced pods in counties operating in the red tier or better. Given that San Francisco is currently operating in the red tier and conditions are steadily improving, we are hopeful that we can welcome a limited number of fans back to Oracle Park beginning with our home opener on April 9.
“Health and safety is our number one priority and we have been working over the past several months to develop plans and protocols to ensure a safe experience for our fans, employees and the community as a whole. In the coming days, the Giants will submit our operational plans for review and approval by the local health officials and we eagerly look forward to safely welcoming fans back to Oracle Park.”
Giants manager Gabe Kapler welcomed the development and said he’s looking forward to seeing fans back at the ballpark this season.
“It’ll mean so much for us to have fans in the stands,” Kapler said on Friday. “I think universally we feel more supported, more engaged, more excited when our fans are behind us. Obviously, we have a job to do no matter what the surroundings are, but San Francisco Giants fans make our games better. It’s really good news.”
If San Francisco County moves from the red tier to the orange tier, attendance for outdoor stadiums will be allowed to increase to 33 percent. If San Francisco County falls back into the most restrictive purple tier, however, only 100 fans will be permitted inside Oracle Park.
The Giants received approval to host between 750 and 1,000 fans for their Cactus League home games at Scottsdale Stadium this year, and several players have said they appreciated the return of a convivial atmosphere after playing in empty stadiums during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
“We want to share this experience with the fans,” Kapler said. “In some ways, we feel like the game is not fully the game without our fans around. It kind of feels like we’re in a partnership with them, so we feel like something is missing when they’re not in the stands.”