The Long Island Ducks will play ball this year with fans in the stands after having to cancel last year’s season due to the pandemic.
The Atlantic League baseball team returns to Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip for its opening night game against the Lexington Legends on Friday, May 28 at 6:35 p.m.
“Ducks baseball is back on Long Island, and that is a great thing for all of us,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said at a news conference at the ballpark on Thursday. “It is a great sign of how far we’ve come out of this pandemic and the progress we’re making.”
Fans will not need to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test to attend a Ducks game, as per new guidelines that Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this week. However, there will be a section for fully vaccinated fans, where there will be no capacity limit, and an unvaccinated section, where capacity will be limited to 33 percent with six-foot social distancing.
“We will have safety parameters in place, but fans will not have to worry about having their children taking a test before,” said Mike Pfaff, general manager of the Ducks, who also noted that there have been several renovations and aesthetic improvements made at the ballpark during the off-season, including new safety railings and signage.
“We’ve been missing everyone out there,” said Frank Boulton, owner of the Ducks. “The last game was played the first week of October 2019. So as Mike said, we keep ourselves busy, we’ve been trying to improve this ballpark for the experience for all of our fans here on Long Island.”
Courtesy of P.C. Richard & Son, the first 1,500 fans through the gates on opening night, May 28, will receive a replica championship ring. Bellone also announced that Fairfield Properties Ballpark will offer Covid-19 vaccinations. On May 28, the first 250 fans to get their vaccination on opening night will receive a voucher for a free ticket to another 2021 home Ducks game.
Tickets are on sale for all home games from May through October at liducks.com or by calling 631-940-TIXX.
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