Pelicans to have 750 fans for regular season home opener

When the New Orleans Pelicans play their home opener on Sunday, Dec. 27, they will have limited fans in the stands at Smoothie King Center.

Dr. Jennifer Avegno, head of the New Orleans Health Department, said Thursday that approximately 750 fans will be allowed to attend the game against the San Antonio Spurs.

New Orleans Saints Senior Vice President Greg Bensel issued a statement confirming the decision.

“With the start of the Pelicans season quickly approaching, our staff, along with city and state officials, health and safety experts and guidance from Ochsner Health have designed a state of the art health and safety plan for the Smoothie King Center,” Bensel said.

Bensel noted that the rise in positive tests for the coronavirus contributed to the decision and added that the guidelines are similar to those for Saints games in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, where only 3,000 fans will be allowed for the next home game against Kansas City on Dec. 20.

Both facilities will operate at approximately 4 percent of listed capacity.

Bensel added that the ability to increase the number of fans attending Pelicans games will increase as things improve with the health and safety metrics attached to COVID-19 improve.

The Pelicans play a preseason game at home on Friday, Dec. 18 with no fans expected.

New Orleans plays its first two regular season games on the road, on Wednesday, Dec. 23 in Tampa against the Toronto Raptors and on Christmas Day at 11 a.m. at Miami.

The Pelicans last played a home game at Smoothie King Center on March 11, prior to the pandemic shutting things down two days later before the season resumed in Orlando in a bubble atmosphere.