It may sound like the volume has been turned up on “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” to anyone passing by Smith’s Ballpark on May 27. But it will actually be the volume of fans inside the park that has been cranked to high.
After three weeks of only allowing roughly 20% of the park’s capacity, the Salt Lake Bees will be able to welcome a full house starting with their first game of a six-game homestand against the Round Rock Express. Smith’s can accommodate 14,511 fans. Masks will be optional.
MLB recently granted minor league teams permission to follow local guidelines regarding capacity and health and safety protocols at their home ballparks, a Bees spokesperson said. The Bees were subsequently given permission by city and state officials to open at full capacity.
Since their opener on May 6, the Bees had been complying with a Salt Lake City-wide mask mandate ordered in April by Mayor Erin Mendenhall. But when the Utah Department of Health lifted all mask regulations except in schools on May 4, the citywide order became unenforcible.
Tickets for the remainder of the Bees’ home games will go on sale May 26. All tickets will be sold digitally and Smith’s will remain a cash-free venue. Reverse ATM kiosks are available on the concourse and most concessions will be sold via a menu available online or by scanning a barcode.
