The Los Angeles Lakers announced on Friday that fans will once again be allowed at Staples Center starting on April 15th. The Lakers be hosting their longtime rivals the Boston Celtics.
In a statement, the Lakers announced that they would be working with LA County Publicly Health as well as Staples Center to ensure that they create a safe environment for fans as well as teams due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
Fans will be required to pass a mobile health screening, wear face masks and stay six feet apart. STAPLES Center also announced that they are now a cash-less venue. For their full list of requirements, you can click here.
The LA Clippers will also be hosting fans at Staples Center again, starting with their game on the 18th.
It has been nearly 13 months since fans were last able to watch the Lakers in person. In March of 2020, the NBA season came to a screeching halt when a game between the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder was cancelled due to a positive COVID test. Since then, the Lakers have played in a bubble in Orlando and in a mostly empty Staples Center save for some loved ones allowed to be at games.
The Lakers and Clippers are among the last few teams in the NBA to bring back fans on the arena.
The Lakers have not yet revealed their 17th championship banned, tying the Celtics for most in league history, due to the lack of fans, giving them an opportunity to do so against their longtime rivals.
