Fans will be allowed to attend a live sporting event at Albany’s Times Union Center for the first time in more than a year. The arena’s management announced Thursday that it will open at 10 percent capacity for the NCAA men’s ice hockey regionals March 27th and 28.The arena has been serving as a COVID vaccination site in recent weeks. Tickets for the hockey tournament will be sold in two-person pods, with pods kept 9feet apart under state guidelines.
Attendees will need to show a negative coronavirus test taken with 72 hours of the game.
"We're excited about reopening the building," arena GM Bob Belber says. "It's a step in the right direction."
Belber also said the arena needs to know by early April if arena football can be held at 25 percent capacity starting May 22, or the Empire's season may need to be postponed by a year.
In an interview, arena GM Bob Belber had intel on upcoming events in Albany:
— Ian Pickus (@IanPickus) March 4, 2021
-They need a commitment to allow 25% capacity for arena football (set to start 5/22) by early April, or they may postpone the Empire season a year
-"A large number of concerts" are booked through 2023 https://t.co/pi0VZDrQgE