Beginning April 30, the Cincinnati Reds can have a larger crowd for their home games at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds announced Wednesday that they will increase capacity from 30% to 40%, which follows new public health orders from Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health regarding outdoor events.
With a maximum capacity of 30% for the first month of the season, the Reds' biggest crowd was 12,598 fans at last Saturday's game against Cleveland. The increase to 40% gives them an estimated maximum attendance of about 16,900.
Cleveland's baseball team already announced it was increasing capacity to 40% for its home games at Progressive Field.
“The Reds are encouraged by this news and will continue to follow the guidelines set by our state,” said Reds COO Phil Castellini. “We are going to be choiceful as we add seats, keeping the safety of fans as our top priority. We believe this is the right approach as we mirror what is happening throughout the state.”
In a press release, the Reds said that all fans holding tickets to games after April 30 will be contacted via email over the next two weeks with more information.
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The new protocols allow for "mixed pods" of up to 10 people. Fans will continue to be required to wear a mask at all times in the ballpark unless they are actively eating or drinking in ticketed seats.
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“We are very pleased with our fans’ compliance to our safety protocols at the ballpark,” Tim O’Connell, the Reds' VP of ballpark operations, said in a statement. "Operationally it is our preference to add capacity in smaller increments like this, as the state permits."
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