Long Island Ducks ballpark among venues with new increased capacity limits

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone says the governor's news is positive, but the outdoor stadium capacity doesn't go far enough.

News 12 Staff

Apr 27, 2021, 2:15 AM

Updated 1,187 days ago

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new set of loosened capacity limits in the state of New York, due to take effect in May.
Cuomo says beginning May 15, offices can increase capacity from 50% to 75%.
Casino and gambling facilities will also be able to bump up -- from 25% to 50%.
And gyms outside New York City will be allowed to increase from 33% to 50%.
Then on May 19, outdoor stadium spectator capacity will be allowed to go from 20% to 33%.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone says the governor's news is positive, but the outdoor stadium capacity doesn't go far enough.
"Bottom line for us is we want Ducks baseball being played at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip once again this summer," says Bellone.
Bellone says he is also hoping there will not be a testing requirement for outdoor stadiums, saying it's unworkable. Since indoor places like gyms, casinos and offices don't have testing or vaccine requirements, Bellone says people going to the ballpark can just affirm they've been vaccinated or tested.
Bellone and the Ducks organization are calling for an increase to 50%.
In a statement to News 12, the Ducks said, "Indoor casinos, gyms, and museums are all being permitted 50% capacity. The governor's statement today limiting outdoor spectator events to 33% is hard to understand when there is no science or data to point to that indicates outdoor venues should have lower capacity percentages than indoor venues. Additionally, this places the Ducks in the same category as Citi Field and Yankee Stadium. We are a much smaller venue and will continue to work with county and state officials with optimism that our plan to open the season at 50% will ultimately be approved."
Bellone says the Ducks games provide people with family friendly fun, get the economy moving and put people back to work.
The changes came as the governor revealed that the New York State Fair will go on for its full run from Aug. 20 through Sept. 6. at 50% capacity. He added that those capacity figures are subject to change.
"We want the vendors, we want the public to know and we want them to know now that we are going to have our state fair," he said during his COVID-19 briefing on the fairgrounds.


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