Texas boosts stadium capacity to 50% despite coronavirus concerns

Last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that professional sports could return to the state in June and that venues could be filled up to 25 percent for events. 

Abbott went one step further on Wednesday. 

Per The Dallas Morning News, Abbott declared that attendance capacity has been raised to 50% for indoor and outdoor venues. 

"Stadiums, whether it be where the Mavericks play or the Texas Rangers play or the Dallas Cowboys play, will be able to seat [at] 50% capacity," Abbott said during an appearance on KDFW-TV. 

An IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth on Saturday will take place behind closed doors and without fans. The upcoming Charles Schwab Challenge at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth will occur with no fans on the course per PGA Tour guidelines. 

NASCAR and the UFC completed events in the United States with no spectators last month. 

Also on Wednesday, Major League Soccer side FC Dallas confirmed one of its players tested positive for the coronavirus.

Per The Dallas Morning News, Texas posted a single-day high for positive COVID-19 tests earlier this week.