Rockets announce Toyota Center fan policies for 2020-21 season

Houston will be one of the limited NBA markets with fans inside its arena when the 2020-21 regular season begins next week.

The Houston Rockets on Thursday announced a new set of health and safety protocols that will allow them to be one of a select number of NBA teams to welcome fans at the start of the 2020-21 season.

According to a Dec. 11 report by David Aldridge of The Athletic, only five NBA teams (Houston, Utah, New Orleans, Orlando, and Memphis) were planning to have at least some fans in arenas to start the season.

While the Rockets did not sell any tickets for preseason games, Thursday’s finale will be open to a limited number of employees, friends, and family as part of a trial run for the re-introduction of fans.

In an announcement proclaiming a “safe, yet fun environment for fans,” the Rockets and Toyota Center say they developed the following protocols and guidelines in partnership with the City of Houston, the Houston Venue and Event Task Force, Memorial Hermann, and the NBA:

  • Reduced capacity will be enforced for Rockets games and all other arena events to allow for proper distancing between sets of guests.
  • Ticketed fans will be required to answer a series of health questions before entering the arena. Fans seated in close proximity to the court will require additional league mandated testing protocols.
  • Proper face masks will be required for ages 2 and up and must be worn at all times inside the arena, unless actively eating or drinking. For more information on face masks, please visit here.
  • No bags are permitted, however lockers will be available for rent.
  • All tickets will be digital. Guests will manage and scan their touchless tickets through the Houston Rockets mobile app.
  • To promote social distancing and sanitization, floor markers and signs promoting social distancing and hand sanitization stations will be placed around the arena.
  • Frequent sanitization of all high touch surface areas during games and events such as seats, handrails, door knob, restrooms, countertops, etc.
  • All staff will receive additional health and safety training.  In addition, staff will also have their temperature checked and will wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
  • All point of sales at Toyota Center will be cashless. Plexiglas barriers will be installed at all concession and retail stands to reduce direct contact between guests and staff. A touchless food and beverage ordering system option will allow fans to receive their orders at their designated seat to maximize social distancing and the overall fan experience.

In addition, Toyota Center has joined the Houston Clean campaign, which was formed by the Houston Venues & Events Task Force along with local hospitality, tourism, and transportation industries. Houston Clean is aimed at helping guests easily identify safety measures.

As part of Houston Clean, Toyota Center pledges to maintain the highest standards of public safety and health. This includes becoming the latest facility to achieve GBAC STAR Accreditation status. The GBAC STAR Accreditation program is the industry’s leading outbreak prevention, response, and recovery accreditation for facilities.

Toyota Center officials say they will continue to research, curate, and implement the most medically effective sanitation and social distancing measures available for the health of their guests and staff.

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A limited number of single game tickets for the first six home games will go on sale on Friday, Dec. 18 at 2:00 p.m. on www.rockets.com. The regular season begins with a home opener on Wednesday, Dec. 23, which will represent the first game at Toyota Center with fans since March 10 — the day before the 2019-20 season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team did not specify the exact amount of “reduced capacity” fans, and it’s possible the number could fluctuate during the season based on other developments related to the coronavirus.

According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, the 2020-21 season will begin for the Rockets with fans at “approximately 16-20 percent” of usual arena capacity, or between 3,000 and 3,660 people.

For those who cannot attend a game at Toyota Center, fan cutouts will also be available for purchase this season. All proceeds benefit the Clutch City Foundation and Children’s Memorial Hermann. Further details on that program are available at www.rockets.com.

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