By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said Tuesday that capacity levels can reach 100 percent on June 1, major news for sports venues and teams that have lost revenues during the past 13 months since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in March 2020.
Sisolak’s directive means Allegiant Stadium could be filled with 65,000 music fans for a July 10 Garth Brooks concert, while T-Mobile Arena could be back to 17,367 fixed-seat hockey fans if the Vegas Golden Knights are playing NHL home playoff games in June. Plus, the Concacaf Gold Cup Final is scheduled for the domed stadium on Aug. 1.
“I am pleased to announce that I am confident every county in the State of Nevada will be able to fully reopen at 100 percent capacity by June 1,” Sisolak said during a 5PM talk today.
“After extensive conversations with state health officials, and with the goal to reopen to 100 percent capacity across Nevada by June 1, we will remove the statewide required social distancing mandate as of May 1,” Sisolak said.
Golden Knights post-season games start in May, so there should be many more fans in T-Mobile Arena than there are now. The Knights have announced current attendance of 3,950, or 22 percent of capacity of 17,367-fixed seat T-Mobile Arena.
Masks will still be required: “The statewide mask mandate will remain in place throughout this transition. Outside of getting vaccinated, it’s still the best tool we have to prevent the spread,” Sisiolak said.
COVID-19 mitigation measures will transfer to local counties starting May 1 and each Nevada county has been working with the COVID-19 Mitigation and Management Task Force to finalize plans for this transition.
Sisioalk said 65 percent of Nevadans who are 60 and older and 75 percent of Nevadans who are 70 and older have initiated or completed vaccination. As older Nevadans get vaccinated, the proportion of confirmed #COVID19 cases within these age groups has decreased.
“In order to reach this goal, everyone must play their part,” the governor said. “Wear a mask, stay home when sick, get tested, and get the vaccine as soon as possible.”
Clark County, which includes the Las Vegas Strip, is ready to submit its COVID-19 ocal Mitigation and Enforcement Plan. Details of the proposal were just released. It will be discussed by county commissioners at their meeting on April 20.
As of today, about 40 percent of Nevadans 16 and older have started the process of getting fully vaccinated and one quarter of Nevadans 16 and older are fully vaccinated.