Portland Trail Blazers fans have not been allowed inside the MODA Center since the Trail Blazers defeated the Phoenix Suns March 10 of last year. However, when the Blazers return home this Friday after a six-game road trip to host the Los Angeles Lakers, fans will be in attendance.
The Trail Blazers announced Wednesday following guidelines from the state of Oregon that starting Friday. Attendance will be limited to 10%. However, as fans are welcomed back inside the MODA Center, the game day experience will be different to accommodate for social distancing and the pandemic. Fans will be required to wear masks at all times, but when eating and drinking. Also, seating will be vastly different as now tickets will be sold in pods, which will allow families to sit together while making sure they are separated from other guests in attendance. When fans enter the arena, they will have to enter through designated points.
Also, before entering the arena, fans will have to complete a health screening on the team’s app, and also the tickets will also be through the app. Another key difference for fans in the arena will be that the Rose Quarter will now be cash-free in hopes of limiting human interaction. In addition, there will be no bags allowed to limit any contact. If spectators want food and drinks on game day, at least to start, the options will be limited.
Though the new logistics of game day might be inconvenient, Chris McGowan, the president and CEO of the Trail Blazers, said,
“We are thrilled to welcome limited fans to Moda Center and bring back the best home court advantage in the league. We are putting health and safety at the forefront of every game and have many new arena improvements and changes to the guest experience that will create a seamless and contactless experience,”
After having fans not attend home games for over a year due to the Coronavirus Pandemic for the Trail Blazers, who are currently the #7 seed and the first team in the play-in tournament. One could hope that fan presence at home games could be enough to lock the Trail Blazers into the playoffs, avoiding playing their way into the field.
Portland Trail Blazers fans will have the opportunity to watch the team four times in person in the regular season before the NBA Playoffs.
For More Information Visit https://www.nba.com/blazers
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Northwest Sports Desk 