Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), parent company of National Hockey League (NHL) team Toronto Maple Leafs and National Basketball Association (NBA) team Toronto Raptors, has revealed its Covid-19 protocols to enter its stadiums.
MLSE has said that it will require fans to provide proof of vaccination against Covid-19 or a negative test result in order to enter its arenas, stadiums and restaurants.
In a statement, MLSE said: “To continue to combat the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, MLSE announced that effective mid-September attendees (including employees, event staff and guests) will be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result to gain access to its areas, stadium and restaurants.”
Scotiabank Arena is the home of Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, and will uphold the entry requirements.
The company also owns and operates other venues, including BMO Field – home of Toronto FC in Major League Soccer (MLS).
The statement continued: “As an organisation that hosts more than four million fans per year, at hundreds of events in multiple venues, MLSE is proud to serve as a central gathering place in Toronto and recognises its responsibility to provide attendees with a safe and secure environment.”
Other sports teams across the US have also announced various Covid-19 protocols. Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers in the National Football League (NFL) also announced that it would ask fans to wear a mask while seated at the SoFi Stadium, unless they are eating or drinking.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health revised orders of outdoor events, meaning that events with an attendance over 10,000 people have to wear masks regardless of vaccination status.
The Carolina Panthers NFL team has also set its own mask policy for games that take place at its home arena, Bank of America Stadium.
Fans and employees will have to wear masks in indoor sections of the stadiums, but do not have to wear them while outside. Proof of being vaccinated against Covid-19 is not a requirement for attending events at the Bank of America Stadium.
Recently, NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders also implemented its own Covid-19 policy, allowing fully vaccinated fans to enter its Allegiant Stadium without wearing a mask.
Image: Christian Mendoza on Unsplash
