Cardinals to allow family, friends to attend Sunday’s game in test run
Sep 22, 2020, 6:40 PM | Updated: Sep 23, 2020, 12:10 pm
General view of action between the Arizona Cardinals and the Detroit Lions during the first half of the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals will be allowing family members and close friends of the team to attend Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium.
The team confirmed that the amount of people permitted to attend will be no more than 750.
“I think overall for our fans, our family and friends, it’s going to be a great experience and our players were thrilled that (owner Michael Bidwill) is doing that,” Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said Wednesday. “We’re excited to test those protocols and Michael could have easily passed those tickets along to other people but decided to give them to us.
“Our players were fired up. They’re going to be excited to play in that kind of intimate setting with family and friends and I just think (it’s) an awesome deal.”
In a letter written by Dr. Cara Christ from the Arizona Department of Health Services that was obtained by Arizona Sports, Christ approved what is being called a test of the Cardinals’ health and safety protocols.
“We feel this can be an important next step for fans safely returning to in-person viewing,” Christ wrote.
Christ also notes that this number goes beyond what they recommend for non-public events, and feels comfortable with this controlled group because of the likelihood of significant contact between each other already.
Based on the state’s current level of COVID-19 transmission being in the “moderate category,” Christ recommended the next step of fans’ return to not occur until Arizona is in the “minimal category.”
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The Atlanta Falcons will have a similar test run of 500 family members and friends attending their game Sunday, but have already confirmed they plan to bring a limited number of fans back for a home game on Oct. 11 if all goes well on Sunday.
Several NFL teams have had fans in the building this year at a limited capacity, including the Miami Dolphins holding over 11,000 for their home opener and the Indianapolis Colts planning for up to 7,500 on Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this story
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