Tacoma Rainiers will be first team in state to start using ‘vaccinated only’ seating

The Tacoma Rainiers will be the first to take up Gov. Jay Inslee’s new guidance suggesting teams begin providing special seating sections for vaccinated fans.

The Rainiers have their first home game Thursday, and there will be a “vaccinated only” section. Fans in that section won’t be required to distance, but they will still have to wear a mask. Fans must show proof of vaccination.

The team says that with this section, they will be able to have 50% capacity at Cheney Stadium.

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“We are thrilled by this announcement which allows us to provide a Cheney Stadium experience closer to what our fans have known for over 60 years,” Tacoma Rainiers President Aaron Artman said in a written release. “This guidance gives vaccinated fans the chance to safely gather for Rainiers baseball, without distancing, and feel a sense of normalcy that we’ve deeply missed for too long.”

Under Inslee’s guidance issued on Monday, spectator events and religious and faith-based organizations can have increased capacity by adding sections for vaccinated attendees.

Officials also told KIRO Radio that enforcement of any rules regarding vaccinations will be on the individual organizations or businesses. The option to allow unvaccinated people will remain, but venues that require vaccination would be able to have additional capacity and fewer spacing limitations.