Attendance sliced in half for Canada/USA soccer showdown
Crowd capacity at Tim Hortons Field will be limited to 50 per cent for the highly-anticipated World Cup qualifying game between the Canadian and American national men's soccer teams.
On Thursday, the provincial government announced its incremental plan to ease restrictions on indoor activities, including sporting events, beginning with small crowds (500 fans or fewer) on Jan. 31. But, it wasn't immediately evident how that would affect outdoor spectator sports.
Thursday afternoon Canada Soccer clarified that. Despite all 24,000 tickets being sold out in three hours in December, attendance for the Sunday Jan. 30 game in Hamilton must now be reduced to 12,000.
Full refunds will be provided to all current ticket holders, who will also be contacted and provided with another window to buy tickets, beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. If any tickets remain they'll go on sale to the general public two days later.
At the game, masks and proof of vaccination will be required, and food and drink will be on sale, but must be consumed in the seats.
In the provincial road map to reopen" phase set out in early January, outdoor sports facilities were permitted to operate with spectators, but not exceeding 50 per cent occupancy, and that was extended to Jan. 31 on Thursday.
Hamilton's Forge FC is scheduled to play the first game of its CONCACAF Champions League series against Cruz Azul of Mexico at Tim Hortons Field, Wednesday Feb. 16. Team president Matt Afinec said the team is waiting for the official publication of regulations for outdoor sport for that period, but is hopeful that the Forge-Azul game can proceed with, at the minimum, the same 50 per cent attendance cap.
The province announced Thursday that starting Jan. 31 indoor sports, which are currently not allowed to have fans, could admit 500 fans or 50 per cent of the building capacity, whichever is lower. If all proceeds well, the plan is to increase capacity for indoor sports to a full 50 per cent of building capacity on Feb. 21 and 100 per cent capacity March 14.
The Hamilton Bulldogs have already played two home games without fans at FirstOntario Centre and are referring all questions to the Ontario Hockey League, which had not released a statement by publication time. The Bulldogs' next home game is Saturday Feb. 5 and they have five home games before the province is scheduled to ease capacity limitations to 50 per cent (about 8,500).
The Rock, the professional lacrosse team which also uses First Ontario Centre, played without fans last Saturday night. Team communications and lacrosse operations director Mike Hancock says the same situation will exist for the team's Jan. 29 home and, likely, Feb. 12 home games. The Rock have three home games after March 14, when the restrictions will hopefully be lifted.
Steve Milton is a Hamilton-based sports columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: smilton@thespec.com