The health and safety of our fans, employees, players and coaches is of the highest priority at Haley Toyota Field. The Red Sox are committed to practice the best and safest efforts to keep the community safe when attending games and events in or at the stadium.
The steps outlined in this document are intended to protect our fans, employees, players and coaches. We will continue to follow the guidance of local, regional and national health and government agencies, and commit to develop policies and procedures in determining the appropriate time for hosting various events at the ballpark. The input of local and regional health partners & Major League Baseball will play a significant role in informing the below policies.
Face coverings are not required by our fans. MLB has adopted requirements by state and local authorities and the City has confirmed this restriction can be removed. All of our staff will continue to wear face coverings until further notice. That includes front office and gameday employees.
In accordance with State of Virginia Executive Order #72, the total number of guests cannot exceed 30% (1875) and six feet of physical distance is required. To ensure social distancing and proper venue capacity, 70% of seats will remain vacant and tickets will be sold in seating pods at least six feet away from fans in other pods. Group and hospitality areas will operate with reduced capacity to allow and promote proper social distancing.
Haley Toyota Field will increase regularity and scope of ballpark cleaning. The Red Sox will sanitize all areas of the ballpark with approved COVID-19 cleaning supplies and routinely disinfect high-traffic areas throughout the event. Added hand sanitizing stations for public and employee use will be available throughout the ballpark. Additional game day staff will be added to ensure proper sanitation.
The Red Sox will encourage proper distancing upon entry, including, without limitation, walkways and sidewalks leading to ballpark entrances. Stanchions and/or spacing markers will promote proper distancing between customers entering and exiting Haley Toyota Field. Additional gates, when applicable, will be utilized to create more space amongst customers waiting in lines & entering and exiting the ballpark.
All staff members will be subject to daily health screening upon entry, including temperature measurement and health questionnaire. Staff will be instructed to make the following changes to fan-facing interactions:
- Prohibit handshaking and physical contact with guests and other employees
- Employees will be required to wear masks
- Employees handling food will be required to wear protective gloves
- Prior to the start of each shift, and continuing when appropriate, employees will be required to wash their hands and put on a new pair of gloves
- Ongoing training to educate staff on new, updated guidelines and procedures
Select ticket windows will be closed to ensure proper distancing between guests. While guests will have the ability to select for their tickets to be printed, the Salem Red Sox highly recommend opting into digital ticketing for the 2021 season. Stanchions and/or spacing markers will promote proper distancing between customers waiting in lines.
Haley Toyota Field will work with their concessionaire company, Diamond Fare to ensure all ballpark and health standards are compliant. All employees will wear gloves during any element of food prep or service. In-game routine sanitization of high traffic areas and touch points, including, but not limited to, prep stations, cash registers, counters, credit card readers and stanchions.
All condiment carts and table condiments are temporarily suspended. All utensils, straws, cups, condiments, and napkins will be single use, and when appropriate, individually wrapped. All will be distributed by staff members at point of sale.
Spacing markers and stanchions will promote social distancing while queued in line. Season Ticket Holder beverage refills will be honored with disposable cup that may be poured into souvenir cup. In-seat vending (hawkers) are temporarily suspended.
Facial coverings may need to be temporarily removed in order to verify identification for the purchase of alcohol.
The Salem Red Sox will have posted CDC guidelines in areas with high visibility to guests, staff, and team personnel, especially in high traffic locations. Appropriate video and public address announcements will promote cleanliness, social distancing, exit strategies, and other best practices.