(Columbus) - Ohio's Department of Health says that the Browns, and the Cincinnati Bengals, will be able to increase the number of people in the seats at FirstEnergy Stadium and Paul Brown Stadium from 6,000 to 12,000 fans per game.
Lance Himes, interim director of the Department of Health, said in an email sent to the teams that in addition to the additional number of spectators, the following rules must be followed:
- Additional seating sections and concourse walkways will be opened to accommodate more spectators while ensuring that six-foot social distancing protocols are maintained.
- Spectators will be directed to enter the stadium using the designated entrance that is closest to their assigned seat.
- Spectators will be grouped in “pods” of predominantly 2-4 people with no grouping larger than 6 individuals who are all members of the same party/group.
- Will follow the same operating standards and plans outlined in the original Cleveland Browns' Responsible Restart Plan.
- Will coordinate/cooperate with the local health department to allow its representative(s) to be onsite during each game to assess compliance, how the team’s spectator plan worked and whether any modifications are needed.
The Browns and Bengals asked for more seating capacity after no cases of COVID-19 were traced to either stadium.
(Photo by Ken Robinson, WTAM)
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