Capacity restrictions in place for Greyhound games as COVID cases surge

For the immediate future, crowds for Ontario Hockey League games at the GFL Memorial Gardens featuring the Soo Greyhounds will be capped at 50 per cent capacity.

That comes as COVID-19 numbers surge in the region, leading to Algoma Public Health to reinstate capacity limits and physical distancing requirements for businesses and organizations in Algoma.

Greyhounds president and governor Tim Lukenda confirmed on Thursday evening that games at the GFL Memorial Gardens will be included under the limits.

The first game affected by the new capacity restriction is Sunday afternoon when the Greyhounds host the Erie Otters.

For the Greyhounds, the limit on capacity in the facility that fits just over 4,900 people for hockey games means that walk-up tickets will be tough to come by for the time being.

“We think there will be some (tickets) available beyond the season ticket holders, but not what we would hope for,” Lukenda said.

Lukenda added that the team is working out the logistics of the situation because “not every season ticket holder attends every game.”

“We want to make sure that we have whatever seats that are available within the 50 per cent capacity limitation are available to the general public,” Lukenda added. “Especially as we get into the holiday season when people are home visiting. It’s usually a period where we have a boost in our attendance because of people wanting to go to Greyhound games while they’re home.”

As of Thursday night, the Algoma region had 234 active cases in the region and 15 hospitalizations.

Specifically in the Sault area, APH has reported 180 new COVID cases since Nov. 11.

Attendance numbers across the OHL have been lower than their pre-pandemic levels and Lukenda said the lower numbers could be due to a number of factors on top of COVID.

“I’m sure there is some COVID hesitancy there,” Lukenda said. “But people are starting to come back. You’re seeing across the league that attendance is starting to build. Our attendance has been building in the games that we’ve had so far, so the limitation is unfortunate, particularly for our fans.”

The Greyhounds aren’t the only team facing capacity limits due to rising active COVID case counts.

The Sudbury Wolves are also facing a decrease in capacity limits after Sudbury Public Health announced similar restrictions.