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By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
The Vegas Golden Knights are applying to increase fan attendance capacity at T-Mobile Arena for home games in April and one possible option is to have sections designated for fans who show proof of COVID-19 vaccination like the NBA Miami Heat will be doing at their home basketball games starting April 1 in South Florida.
The advantage of having sections reserved for only vaccinated fans is that social distancing rules can be relaxed. In the case of Miami Heat home games, for example, pods of vaccinated fans will be separated by only one seat. The Heat will be using two lower bowl sections for vaccinated fans, who will still have to wear masks. Plus, those Miami Heat fans need to be vaccinated for at least 14 days before they can be eligible to sit in those special sections.
At Golden Knights home games in March, pods of two, four and six fans are separated by at least six feet based on observations at T-Mobile Arena. The attendance capacity is currently 20 percent, or 3,473 fans — up from an original 15 percent, or 2,605 fans.
In Nevada, everyone 16 and older can get a COVID-19 vaccination starting April 5. Plus, Gov. Steve Sisolak’s most recent directive said large gatherings can have up to 50 percent capacity, but social distancing of six feet is still required. The Knights want to have more fans in the building. But they also need to show state and local officials that the required social distancing will be in place, too — thus, the challenge.
The Golden Knights have contacted fans to see if they would like to buy single game tickets for the first two series in April and also to tell tell them about the chance to buy suites for games.
Here are Nevada’s most recent COVID-19 numbers as of Friday:
The Knights have home games set for Monday and Wednesday, March 29 and 31, when 20 percent fan capacity will be in place when the LA Kings come to Las Vegas.
The Golden Knights home games for April are: VGK vs Minnesota Wild, April 1 and 3; VGK vs Arizona Coyotes, April 9 and 11; VGK vs San Jose Sharks, April 19 and 21; VGK vs Colorado Avalanche, April 26 and 28. The season ends May 7 and 8 with Golden Knights home games against the St. Louis Blues.
Golden Knights fans currently have to use a health app to confirm they are in good health and enter the venue at pre-set times and leave the arena by sections after VGK games.
VGK team president Kerry Bubolz has floated the idea of having fans showing proof of vaccination, but nothing is official yet.
UFC President Dana White said the Las Vegas-based MMA promoter will not have events at its events until UFC can have 100 percent capacity. That’s why he’s taking a UFC fight show event on the road and leaving Las Vegas for Jacksonville to hold UFC 261 April 24 when more than 15,000 fans are expected to be in the arena in North Florida. White said on Twitter UFC 261 sold out in minutes and set an arena record for highest gross.
Friday’s NHL scores:
And Henderson Silver Knights 6 Colorado Eagles 4 from Friday night.