Nationals planning to open stadium to full capacity by June originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
The Nationals have been working with Washington, D.C. and Major League Baseball to ensure they are providing a safe experience for fans wanting to return to the ballpark in person. And as the baseball season gets deeper into the summer the park's capacity is going to grow.
Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Nationals announced Monday that the team was granted a waiver to expand seating to 36% of the stadium beginning on May 14, which is Friday of this week.
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The release also announced that the Nationals will be able to operate at full capacity beginning on June 11 as all capacity restrictions are lifted throughout the city.
"We want to thank Mayor Bowser and her administration for their partnership and collaboration over the past several months as we worked together on a safe and comprehensive plan to get fans back into the ballpark," the Nationals said in a team statement. "Our organization will continue to work diligently to ensure the safety of our players, staff, and fans as we welcome everyone back to Nationals Park.”
As more and more fans are becoming vaccinated from COVID-19, restrictions are starting to be lifted around the country. In Washington, the team has not yet announced if there will be any change to the safety protocols enacted for the season, including mobile ticketing, cashless transactions, mask requirements and social-distancing guidelines in the stadium.
With baseball's regular season expected to run a full 162 games through the end of September, there are now plenty of opportunities for fans to get back out to the ballpark with their friends and families to cheer on the Nats.
