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It’s been a long 13 months, but the Golden State Warriors will finally get to play their home games with some fans in attendance.
The SF Chronicle’s Connor Letourneau reports that the Dubs are allowed to have fans in the building at up to 35 percent capacity beginning April 23 when they host the Denver Nuggets.
The rules from the city require the Warriors to have fans produce proof of either full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of the game.
The Warriors will start letting fans back at Chase Center starting with their April 23 game against the Nuggets. Per San Francisco, they're allowed to have up to 35% capacity.
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) April 8, 2021
This news means the Warriors will at least have some spectators for their final nine home games as they try and secure a spot in the postseason. Golden State hasn’t played in front of its home fans since they beat the Philadelphia 76ers on March 7, 2020.
Ownership will welcome the news as it finally gets a chance to earn some revenue after opening the Chase Center prior to last season. COVID-19 cases are coming down across California as efforts to vaccinate the public continue.
The state has administered nearly 21 million vaccines to residents and aims to fully reopen on June 15.
The NBA playoffs are scheduled to begin on May 22, and if the Dubs can guarantee themselves at one least one seven-game series, we could see an increase in capacity during their first-round home games.
At the very least, this a step back towards normalcy. The NBA is anticipating that arenas will be at full capacity once again for the 2021-22 season.