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Penguins games could have separate sections for vaccinated, non-vaccinated fans

Penguins games could have separate sections for vaccinated, non-vaccinated fans
KYLIE: THE FANS LIKE THIS IDEA FROM THE PENGUINS TO ADD VACCINATED SECTIONS TO GET MORE PEOPLE INSIDE OF T ARENA AND ALSO MEET THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR GAME TICKETS. >> DEFINITELY. I WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTED IN THAT. KYLIE: THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS HOPING TO SCORE WHAT THEIR PROPOSAL TO CREATE VACCINATED SECTIONS AT PPG PAINTS ARENA. THE PENGUINS SAY THE VACCINATED SECTIONS WOULD ALLOW FANS WITH PROOF OF VACCINATION TO SIT CLOSER IN A PROTECTE ENVIRONMENT. A GOOD IDEA TO SOME PITTSBURGHERS. >> I THINK IT’S A PRETTY GOOD WAY TO KEEP PEOPLE COMFORTABLE . GETS MORE ATTENDANCE SO IT MAKES SENSE TO ME. KYLIE: IN A LETTER TO SEASON TICKET HOLDERS, THE TEAM PRESIDENT WROTE THIS DOES NO MEAN VACCINATIONS WILL BE A REQUIREMENT TO ATTEND GAMES. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS TO APPROVE THE TEAM’S REQUEST. WEDNESDAY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, GOVERNOR TOM WOLF DID NOT SAY IF HE WOULD APPROVE THE PENS PROPOSAL. AND POINTED TO GUIDANCE FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. >> YOU STILL GOT TO BE CAREFUL. EVEN IF YOU’VE BEEN VACCINATED, EVEN IF YOU ARE IN THE OUTDOORS, IF YOU ARE A CROWDED EVENT. KYLIE: ALLEGHENY COUNTY EXECUTIVE RICH FITZGERALD SAYS HE SUPPORTS THE PROPOSAL. >> I DO APLAUD THE PENGUINS FOR DOING THAT AND I DO HOPE THAT OTHER VENUES CONSIDER THE SAME THING. KYLIE: MENTIONING THEATRES, THE OPERA, AND THE SYMPHONY. OLIVIA MINTER SAYS ONCE SHE GETS HER SECOND SHOT, SHE WOULD SIT IN A VACCINATED SECTION. IF THEY CAN PULL THAT OFF WITH CONCERTS, YEAH, I’M IN. KYLI AT PPG PAINTS ARENA, THERE ARE SEVERAL SIGNS POSTED REMINDING PEOPLE TO MASK UP AND FOLLOW CDC GUIDANCE. THE PENS SAID IN THEIR LETTER TO TICKET HOLDERS, THES
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Penguins games could have separate sections for vaccinated, non-vaccinated fans
Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday spoke about the possibility of Pittsburgh Penguins games having separate sections at PPG Paints Arena for fans who are vaccinated against COVID-19 and those who are not.Some Pittsburghers said this is a good idea. “I think it’s a pretty good way to keep people comfortable gets more attendance so it makes sense to me,” Victor Hankinson said.(Watch the governor's comments in the video player above.)Wolf acknowledged that the Pens made the request but did not say whether the state would approve it. His comments came in response to a question during a visit to the vaccine clinic at Washington Crown Center. "They originally wanted to have games with just people who are vaccinated. Now they want to separate them," Wolf said. "One of the things that was in the CDC guidelines was that you've still got to be careful, even if you've been vaccinated, and even if you're in the outdoors if you're at a crowded event -- although the Phillies and Pirates haven't been all that crowded lately -- but even at outdoor events, you want to be a little careful."So the Penguins, everybody with sporting indoors and outdoors, are struggling with exactly that question: How do we do this?"Wolf described the issue as "a work in progress" and said, "We're trying to figure it out," noting that close to 50% of Pennsylvanians have received a first dose of the vaccine.In a letter to season ticket holders, Penguins President David Morehouse said the organization asked the Pennsylvania Department of Health for the option to have vaccinated sections at the arena."Vaccinated sections would allow fans with proof of vaccination to sit closer in a protected environment," the letter said. "We are encouraged by the number of people in and around the region that have been vaccinated and feel that this would be a safe and effective way to allow more fans access to attend games."Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said he supports the proposal. “I do applaud the Penguins for doing that and I do hope that other venues consider the same thing,” Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald mentioned theatres, the opera and the symphony. Olivia Minter said once she gets her second shot, she would sit in a vaccinated section. “If they can pull that off with concerts, yeah I’m definitely in,” she said. Vaccinations would not be a requirement to attend games, and fans would still have to wear masks, the letter said.The Penguins are seeing increased demand for tickets as the playoffs approach, "and we are doing our best to increase capacity going forward" while keeping safety as the top priority, the letter said.

Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday spoke about the possibility of Pittsburgh Penguins games having separate sections at PPG Paints Arena for fans who are vaccinated against COVID-19 and those who are not.

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Some Pittsburghers said this is a good idea.

“I think it’s a pretty good way to keep people comfortable gets more attendance so it makes sense to me,” Victor Hankinson said.

(Watch the governor's comments in the video player above.)

Wolf acknowledged that the Pens made the request but did not say whether the state would approve it. His comments came in response to a question during a visit to the vaccine clinic at Washington Crown Center.

"They originally wanted to have games with just people who are vaccinated. Now they want to separate them," Wolf said. "One of the things that was in the CDC guidelines was that you've still got to be careful, even if you've been vaccinated, and even if you're in the outdoors if you're at a crowded event -- although the Phillies and Pirates haven't been all that crowded lately -- but even at outdoor events, you want to be a little careful.

"So the Penguins, everybody with sporting indoors and outdoors, are struggling with exactly that question: How do we do this?"

Wolf described the issue as "a work in progress" and said, "We're trying to figure it out," noting that close to 50% of Pennsylvanians have received a first dose of the vaccine.

In a letter to season ticket holders, Penguins President David Morehouse said the organization asked the Pennsylvania Department of Health for the option to have vaccinated sections at the arena.

"Vaccinated sections would allow fans with proof of vaccination to sit closer in a protected environment," the letter said. "We are encouraged by the number of people in and around the region that have been vaccinated and feel that this would be a safe and effective way to allow more fans access to attend games."

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said he supports the proposal.

“I do applaud the Penguins for doing that and I do hope that other venues consider the same thing,” Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald mentioned theatres, the opera and the symphony.

Olivia Minter said once she gets her second shot, she would sit in a vaccinated section.

“If they can pull that off with concerts, yeah I’m definitely in,” she said.

Vaccinations would not be a requirement to attend games, and fans would still have to wear masks, the letter said.

The Penguins are seeing increased demand for tickets as the playoffs approach, "and we are doing our best to increase capacity going forward" while keeping safety as the top priority, the letter said.