Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner expects fans inside Yankee Stadium at some point during the 2020 season. Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner expects 20-30 percent stadium capacity

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 7/2/20

The New York Yankees are planning to host a percentage of fans during the 60-game regular season played amid the coronavirus pandemic.

As The Athletic's Lindsey Adler tweeted, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner touched upon the subject while speaking on cable television network YES on Thursday.

"I do expect to see fans in our stadium at some point to some degree, and that’s going to be a great day as well," Steinbrenner said.

Steinbrenner added that Yankee Stadium will open at 20-30 percent capacity "at first" if the club is given the OK to do so by government authorities:

Hal Steinbrenner told YES today that he expects to have fans in the park at some point this season. Said there have been many convos with Gov. Cuomo. Expects it would be 20-30% capacity initially if fans are allowed into Yankee Stadium this year.
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) July 2, 2020

Direct quotes from Hal Steinbrenner to YES: “I do expect to see fans in our Stadium at some point to some degree, and that’s going to be a great day as well.”

"I’m sure it’ll be in the 20-30% (capacity) range, hopefully, at first."
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) July 2, 2020

As ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques explained, current State of New York guidelines prohibit any professional sports franchise from playing games with fans inside venues. Similar to rules seen for European soccer leagues throughout June and early July, spectators are also banned from congregating outside of New York stadiums and ballparks.

While protocols are flexible and restrictions may be relaxed, virus outbreaks around the country continue to worsen heading into the July 4 holiday.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has declared that MLB players won't be subject to quarantine rules imposed upon certain out-of-state visitors.

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