Rangers About To Open Stadium At Full Capacity

For the first time since March 2020, we will have a full baseball stadium. That reality takes place Monday in Texas, when the Rangers host the Blue Jays at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

It marks the first time an MLB stadium has opened at full capacity -- nearly 40,000 seats -- since COVID-19 fears gripped the nation and shut down sports almost entirely.

The Rangers' decision comes one month after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ended the state's mask mandate and gave businesses freedom to open at full capacity. Abbott cited the availability of vaccines and the declining COVID-19 numbers for his decision.

Rangers president of business operations Neil Leibman released a statement on March 10 to make it clear the club is taking measures to ensure that fans are safe. Masks will still be required, Leibman said, unless of course they are eating or drinking.

“We will continue to monitor developments and implement the necessary public health measures,” he said.

Per the CDC, about 18 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated.