Dodgers to have ‘fully-vaccinated fan section’ on Saturday

The Dodgers on Saturday will sell tickets in a “fully-vaccinated fan section” on the Loge level, with no social distancing requirements and fans sitting directly next to others.

For now, this is only in two sections, 166 and 168, which are the last two sections down the right field level on the Loge level. Fans in this section have to enter the stadium at the right field loge entrance, and must show proof of vaccination. For kids ages two to 15, proof of a negative COVID-19 test within the previous 72 hours is required.

Among other details of the section, from the Dodgers:

Social distancing will not be required in a fully vaccinated-only section. Persons seated in these sections will be seated directly next to other parties.

Face coverings must be worn in the fully vaccinated-only sections, except while actively eating and/or drinking in the ticketed seat.

No resale of tickets will be permitted.

It is unclear how many tickets in those two sections will be sold, but with Los Angeles County in the “moderate” orange tier of California’s blueprint to reopen the state, maximum capacity in fully-vaccinated or negative test areas is 67 percent, compared to 33 percent in other, socially-distanced areas of the park.

In the first six games of the regular season, Dodger Stadium averaged 15,058 fans per game, roughly 27 percent of capacity.

On the Padres’ six-game homestand, they sold tickets in vaccinated areas in 24 sections at Petco Park. For now, Saturday is the only game on the Dodgers’ seven-game homestand that will have these two vaccinated sections.

Links & notes

• Kenley Jansen found a way to “start fresh again,” writes Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register.
• The Dodgers have withstood various injuries to start off hot. Jay Jaffe at FanGraphs looks at how they did it.
• After the Dodgers’ 14-4 start, Mike Petriello at MLB.com tried to carve out a possible path of breaking the MLB record of 116 wins.
• With the Dodgers and Padres set to battle again this weekend, J.P. Hoornstra at the Orange County Register wonders what makes a rivalry a rivalry.
• Among the concessions open beginning this homestand at Dodger Stadium are Dueling Dogs, Bao and Bowls, Golden Road Brewing and the Jim Beam Bar in the center field plaza, and Lil’ Sweet Chick on the field level.
• Russell Carleton at Baseball Prospectus dug deep into the “double hook” DH rule that will be tried this season in the Atlantic League.