Three-hundred and fifty-seven days: that’s how long it’s been since the New Jersey Devils hit the ice with fans to cheer them on in person.
Games at the Prudential Center have been quieter ever since–“quieter” because crowd noise has still been projected throughout the arena to keep team morale up during games, but the seats have remained largely empty due to pandemic related restrictions, except for the sparse staff and family that’ve been allowed in recent weeks.
When the Devils take on the New York Islanders at 7 p.m. on March 2, 1,800 fans will be present due to an executive order announced Feb. 22 and enacted 6 a.m. on March 1. Arenas with a capacity of 5,000 seats or more can allow 10% occupancy indoors, or 15% occupancy outdoors.
“Tomorrow will certainly be a new boost of energy,” New Jersey Devils President Jake Reynolds told NJBIZ via phone. “Tomorrow is a day that our entire organization and staff has been planning and looking forward to for the last 11 months. Our fans are our lifeblood, to be able to open the doors again and welcome them back…it’ll be an emotional moment for a lot of our team and staff.”
Tickets went on sale last week for the eight home games planned for March and quickly sold out, with many tickets going to season pass holders and the remaining going to the general public.
“It’s obviously, one, a testament to how passionate and loyal our fanbase is, and the excitement around the team. And second, it’s the confidence they have in the environment and safety protocols we put in place,” Reynolds said.
The Prudential Center’s health protocols, which the center consulted RWJBarnabas Health on, include maximizing social distancing, minimizing contact and using products and technology to ensure the wellbeing, safety and enjoyment of fans and attendees, Reynolds said.
The National Hockey League implemented a regional approach to hockey during the pandemic. Typically, the Devils play 30 teams in the United States and Canada several times throughout hockey season, which runs on an 82 game schedule from October to April. This season’s reduced schedule has them playing 56 games through the end of May against seven other teams within a regional division.
Twelve teams in the NHL have been able to open their doors to some fans so far, but the Devils haven’t played any of those teams, and haven’t played to a crowd elsewhere since last March.
From a business perspective, Reynolds said that March 2 marks step one in welcoming fans back to games that are often sold out, and on average sold to 90% capacity.
“The plan we designed was designed to be scaleable…while tomorrow is 10%, we’re confident we’re going to be able to build capacity numbers,” he said, noting the three-pronged approach included working with the governor’s officer, working with partner RWJBarnabas, and surveying the fanbase on what would make them comfortable enough to walk into the arena.
