The Hartford Athletic soccer club, which played an exhibition match in recent days, on Tuesday announced it will open Dillon Stadium to fans later this month at 25% capacity.
The Division II professional soccer franchise said it plans to welcome a maximum of roughly 1,375 fans to the 5,500-seat stadium on Monday, July 20 at 7 p.m. when it hosts Loudoun United FC. The match can also be viewed in a national broadcast on ESPN2, officials say.
The Athletic’s second season in the United Soccer League (USL) had been postponed by four months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its revised regular season schedule includes nine home games and seven road games from July 17 to Oct. 4.
“After months of hard work and collaboration with local and state government, we look forward to safely opening our doors to our loyal and dedicated fans this season,” Hartford Athletic co-founder and chairman Bruce Mandell said in a statement.
Team officials say they are working with the city and the state to receive final approval for its game day operations plan.
The following safety protocols and procedures will be implemented for home games:
- Fans, staff and vendors will be required to wear face masks at all times while in the stadium, except while consuming food and beverage.
- Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrance/exit of each gate and throughout the concourse and bathrooms for fans.
- Fans will enter at different gates depending on the section they are seated in.
- Non-touch ticket scanners will be used by staff wearing masks and gloves.
- Traffic in the concourse will be marked for right-side traffic only.
- Seating ushers will be situated throughout the stadium to help enforce safe and distanced seating rules.
- All concessions will be in individual packaging or containers.
- Bathroom attendants will be stationed in each available restroom to clean surfaces and high-touch areas and to manage social distancing.
- Tailgating will be prohibited in all parking lots.
- Post-game autograph sessions with fans is prohibited .
A full list of game day safety protocols for the 2020 season can be found here.
