COLUMBUS – Governor Mike DeWine says pro sports teams could allow up to 30% of fans in stadiums this spring under a pandemic-related plan for sports.
The governor said Monday that the expanded fan capacity would apply to the Clippers, Crew, Indians, Reds and FC Cincinnati.
The governor says the 30% figure is contingent on fans being masked and practicing proper social distancing and warns the proposal could change if the coronavirus variant spreads rapidly.
“The caution that I conveyed to all the minor league teams and every major league team is we don’t know about this variant, we don’t know what it means, we don’t know what the spread is going to be,” he said.
While some popular downtown summer festivals have already cancelled their events due to continued concerns about the presence of COVID-19, one annual event has announced that it is planning to go forward.
Columbus Oktoberfest 2021 is slated to be held in-person Sept. 10-12 at the Ohio Expo Center, said Carla Epler, COO of Schmidt’s and Oktoberfest executive director.
“We will be working in tandem with the Coalition of Fairs and Festivals and with the Columbus Department of Health to ensure we have the appropriate safety measures in place that keep safety and social distancing our top priority,” Epler said.
This year’s edition of the festival will feature the Gemutlichkeit Games, a new area dedicated to athletic events seen at the Oktoberfest in Munich every year.
Gemutlichkeit is a German word that refers to “a state or feeling of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer.”
Planned for the Expo Center’s Ohio Department of Natural Resources exhibit area, the games feature events like the Steinheben – a 500-pound stone lift with a handle — and Steinstossen – a 185-pound stone throw, Epler said.