New York Islanders A Month Into Fans During COVID-19 Era
Live sports are back on Long Island. For a month, the general public has been attending New York Islanders games as the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Thursday, March 18 was the first game with season ticket holders attending in 376 days.
This monumental milestone represented a benchmark in the fight against COVID-19. After a difficult year, fans are at Nassau Coliseum once again.
COVID-19 Protocol For Islanders Fans
On Feb. 24, the Islanders announced season ticket members could attend games starting March 18. From that moment forward, the excitement started brewing.
The Islanders joined the Rangers, Devils and other local hockey teams when they announced fans could return to the Nassau Coliseum, starting with 1,000 Northwell Health frontline workers on March 11.
But it was not that easy. The Islanders implemented strict guidelines to ensure the safety of fans, players and staff members.
First, fans had to schedule a PCR COVID-19 test. To help fans comply with this guideline, the Islanders partnered with Northwell Health to create a testing system.
Fans were able to schedule a virtual visit with a health expert, who vetted the fan and confirmed they comply with state guidelines. If they passed, the fan was sent to a COVID-19 testing center, where they were tested within 72 hours of puck drop.
If they passed, they needed to take a health questionnaire the day of the game and present their ticket on their mobile device.
By comparison, most teams around the National Hockey League did not require testing or the completion of a questionnaire when they started allowing fans. The New Jersey Devils hosted the New York Islanders three times in March and Islanders’ fans were able to attend the game from Long Island without proof of a negative test result.
A New Normal
While fans got used to a new normal, life will be getting back to what we expected soon. Nassau Coliseum and other indoor arenas in New York state are allowing 25 percent capacity starting May 19.
Nonetheless, with the season coming to an end, even more fans will be in the building soon. This a testament to how far New York has come since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic last March.
