Colorado Rapids set to open full stadium July 4
The Colorado Rapids are becoming the latest MLS team to open up their stadium, the club announcing on Thursday that it will be ready to operate at full capacity in just over a month.
Currently, the Colorado Rapids, like much of MLS, have been operating under social distancing guidelines and a limited capacity. But with Thursday’s announcement comes the significant news that the club is opening up Dick’s Sporting Goods Park fully for the July 4 game.
The decision by the Rapids comes as national COVID-19 vaccine numbers continue to soar, leading to a downturn in new cases. Colorado is following both of these national trends in terms of the numbers of individuals being vaccinated as well as a drop in new cases being reported.
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Traditionally, dating back to the team’s time at Mile High Stadium and then empower Field, the July 4 game has been followed by fireworks. It is typically the biggest draw of the season for the Rapids.
The Colorado Rapids will continue to implement procedures such as sanitizing stations and cash-free transactions to help limit exposure.
“We’re delighted to finally welcome our fans back to a full capacity DICK’S Sporting Goods Park,” Pádraig Smith, Rapids general manager, said in a statement released by the club.
“It’s a moment we’ve eagerly anticipated since games were suspended last year and we couldn’t be more thankful to our local health authorities for their tireless efforts in helping us reach this milestone and to our fans for their patience and continued support as we worked to re-open the stadium in a safe manner. I know I speak for everyone at the club when I say we can’t wait to experience the atmosphere of a full stadium with our supporters on July 4.”
The Rapids are off to a solid start, despite a 2-1 loss this past weekend at Los Angeles Football Club. They currently sit 3-2-1 on 10 points and in fifth place in the Western Conference.
Prior to Saturday’s loss at LAFC, the Rapids had won three straight games.
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