With coronavirus restrictions remaining in place for large-scale events across the country, the Utah Jazz have announced their plans for bringing fans back to Vivint Smart Home Arena safely. The NBA season tips off in December, with plans for a 72-game regular season running through to July. Utah hopes to begin the year with fans in the stands, building eventually to a full stadium for games during the NBA playoffs.

“the Jazz believe this is a responsible way to start the season from a public health and safety standpoint,” says Jazz President Jim Olson. “Our intent is to increase the number of fans as the season unfolds in compliance with state guidelines. We want to reassure our guests that we are taking the utmost precautions to have a safe and enjoyable experience as they return. We are optimistic for the future and continue to closely monitor the public health situation with State of Utah, Salt Lake County, and Salt Lake City officials as well as the NBA.”

The plans are predicated on local officials continuing to allow them as the COVID situation evolves, of course. Social distancing and hygiene plans are in place for each phase, which presumably hope to take advantage of COVID vaccination becoming available beginning late this year and expanding throughout 2021. Utah currently does not have a statewide restriction on event attendance, as many states do. Rather, the amount of people allowed to attend any event is capped by venue capacity in terms of the ability to safely adhere to social distancing guidelines, particularly in areas of high transmission (currently almost the entire state, including Salt Lake City).

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Preseason games will be played without fans. Beginning with 1,500 fans in attendance for the December 22 opener, here is the phase-in plan:

Phase One: December-January

  • Staring with 1,500 fans.
  • Limited fan capacity with social distancing.
  • Opportunity for season ticket members to purchase individual game tickets at season ticket prices using credits from season ticket payments.
  • Locations will vary based on social distancing.
  • Hospitality suites open at limited capacity.

Phase Two: January-March

  • Increased fan capacity.
  • Limited fan capacity with social distancing.
  • Goal to increase fan capacity on a game-to-game basis in accordance with health and safety guidelines.
  • Season ticket members to receive multi-game packages. Locations will vary based on social distancing.
  • Opportunity for season ticket members to purchase individual game tickets at season ticket prices using credits from season ticket payments.
  • Hospitality suites open at limited capacity.

Phase Three:  March-May

  • Return of season ticket members
  • Goal to increase fan capacity to a level that will allow all season ticket members to return to Vivint Smart Home Arena in their seats for all remaining games.
  • Goal for season ticket members to receive their normal, season ticket member location. Locations may possibly vary in accordance with health and safety guidelines.
  • Goal to have hospitality suites fully open.
  • Opportunity for season ticket members to purchase additional individual game tickets using season ticket payment credits.

Phase Four: May-July

  • Goal to fill Vivint Smart Home Arena to capacity and bring the house down for Utah Jazz playoff basketball.
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