Barclays Center’s vaccine mandate for employees and guests is just a glimpse of what’s to come for the NBA and WNBA

This new rule sends a clear message: Get vaccinated.

There will be no debate about whether folks at the Barclays Center this season will be vaccinated.

In an announcement, on Friday both the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty released statements regarding the vaccination policy at the Barclays center for the rest of the WNBA season and the upcoming NBA season.

Proof a vaccination is now a requirement for anyone who works in the arena and anyone who plans on attending a game in the near future.

The statement said the new rule is moving in accordance with a recent mandate from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio requiring proof of vaccinations for employees and guests at a variety of businesses including restaurants, gyms and entertainment centers.

The statement said the vaccine mandate will start on September 13.

Though this is a mandate in accordance with a law from the city, this is probably something we can expect from arenas and teams across both the WNBA and NBA. And not just for its employees, but for players, too.

The NBA is already employing a strict vaccination policy for Summer League in Las Vegas where players are essentially required to remain isolated if they aren’t vaccinated. For the WNBA, 99 percent of the league is already vaccinated — there was no mandate required. It’s just a matter of making sure the guests and employees at arenas are, too.

These new regulations from both leagues send a clear message to both the players, staff and the public: Get vaccinated if you want to attend, work and actually play in these games.

That’s not a bad thing. Expect more teams and arenas to follow suit.