As Baseball Season Begins, Southern California Stadiums Are Rife With Rules

Opening day ceremonies are performed at Petco Park before a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres in San Diego, Calif., on April, 4, 2016. (Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press)

It’s opening day for Major League Baseball (MLB) April 1, but the rules of the game don’t just apply to players this year.

Fans, too, must abide by a plethora of regulations in order to catch their favorite team in person during the ongoing pandemic.

Stadium capacity in Orange County—currently in the orange tier—will be limited to 33 percent, per state guidelines.

MLB policy requires fans to be seated in physically-distanced pods of two-to-six seats. Unused seats will be zip tied.

Floor markers and signage will be placed throughout stadiums to indicate six feet of separation, and highly-trafficked areas will be partitioned off to promote social distancing.

Fans aged two-and-older will be required to wear appropriate face coverings—but neck gaiters, bandanas and masks with valves aren’t considered adequate by stadium standards.

Fans can remove masks when eating or drinking in their ticketed seats.

Los Angeles Dodgers

After winning its first World Series in 32 years, opening day for the L.A. Dodgers begins in Denver, where they’ll compete against the Colorado Rockies.

The Dodgers’ first home game will be against the Washington Nationals April 9.

Dodger fans must scan their digital tickets at stadium entrances via the MLB Ballpark app.

With Los Angeles likely to be in the Orange tier in April, fans can expect to visit the stadium at 33 percent capacity.

Concessions, food, and other purchases in the ballpark will be contactless and cashless, as Dodgers Stadium is only accepting payment by card.

Cash-to-card kiosks will be placed throughout the stadium to allow fans to convert cash into a MasterCard debit cash card, which can be used anywhere MasterCard.

Stadiums are no longer permitting bags, backpacks, coolers, or large purses, with the exception of bags carried for medical reasons. Diaper bags that accompany infants and young children will also be permitted.

Parking must be purchased in advanced in order to reduce face-to-face contact with stadium employees.

Dodger Stadium has outlawed smoking—including electronic cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products—in the stadium and parking lots.

Plexiglass dividers have been installed at information kiosks and other areas of interaction.

Parking lots will open 90 minutes prior to the game, and stadium gates will open one hour before the first pitch.

Anaheim Angels

The Los Angeles Angels will kick off the season against the Chicago White Sox at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

Stadium capacity will be limited to 33 percent. When the county reaches the yellow tier, the capacity can expand to 67 percent.

The park is currently prohibiting tailgating.

Autographs and player interactions are prohibited due to MLB health protocols.