CHICAGO -- One of the best teams in baseball is about to get greater in-person support at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Following approval from the Chicago city and Illinois state leadership and public health officials, the White Sox will increase stadium capacity to 60% beginning Monday, May 24, vs. the St. Louis Cardinals. That increase brings the total to approximately 24,300 fans allowed at the stadium.

“[There has been] a lot of work and coordination between the White Sox and Cubs to get to this point,” White Sox chief revenue and marketing officer Brooks Boyer said of the latest news. “It’s really nice to get our fans back in here to see this team play. The team has been a lot of fun to watch.

“Our crowds even at lower capacity have been massively energetic, and [we] just can’t wait to get a bigger group of people. And working with the city and the state to get us there -- we’re super excited. Obviously it’s seeing a little bit at the end of what’s been a long time. But to get 60% is awesome. We look forward to getting our full force of fans.”

The White Sox will also present two vaccinated-only sections for four games this weekend. Beginning with Game 1 of the doubleheader against Kansas City on Friday, fans who purchase tickets in the designated vaccinated-only sections -- located in Sections 108 and 109 -- will present their vaccination cards or other proof that they have been fully vaccinated along with a photo ID upon entering the ballpark.

Fans holding tickets in these sections will be seated without physical distancing. Both sections will be sold in full.

““It was something the city liked when they looked around the country, [and] thought it would be an interesting trial to see how people would react and how fans would be able to enjoy it," Boyer said. "And it allows us to bring more people into the ballpark for these two games.”

Tickets for games at Guaranteed Rate Field from May 24 through June 16 will be offered in seating pods, with an open seat between pods within the same row. Beginning May 24, the White Sox also will offer two vaccination sites for fans at Guaranteed Rate Field, with one on the upper level and one on the lower level.

Every fan who receives a vaccination before a game will receive a $25 White Sox gift card for use inside the ballpark. The White Sox will also promote vaccinations to the public through scoreboard and public address announcements, in-game promotional reads by announcers, signs inside and outside the ballpark, the Dan Ryan message board and various social media platforms.

“Clearly, we’re seeing it and the city’s proving it: The more people get vaccinated, the more things are opening up,” Boyer said. “Our message: We want full crowds -- this team has earned full crowds. For us, our message is going to be: Get vaccinated because we want to get to 100% capacity at the ballpark.”

Health and safety measures will remain in effect at Guaranteed Rate Field after May 24, including the requirement to wear a face mask properly throughout the ballpark property, cashless transactions and mobile ticketing and ordering. There will also be a no-bag policy, which speeds up fan entry into the ballpark.