Yankees 'Can't Wait' For Fans to Return to the Stands This Spring

New York Yankees fans are expected to be at George M. Steinbrenner Field once spring training games begin. Yankees Luke Voit and Giancarlo Stanton are excited

Max Goodman | Feb 25, 2021

As the Yankees conducted their second full-squad workout of spring training on Wednesday, employees of George M. Steinbrenner Field were busy in the stands.

Throughout the day, zip ties were installed on sets of seats around the ballpark in preparation for the arrival of fans (socially distanced due to the pandemic) once exhibition games begin this weekend.

"I know we're all looking forward to that. No more fans through the speaker system," Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton said. "We need some live-action fans and I think it'll be great for the fans as well to be able to get their mind off of something for a couple hours, come see us play and just enjoy being outside and back to somewhat normalcy."

Zip ties installed at George M. Steinbrenner Field — Zip ties being installed at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Wednesday in preparation for fans / Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

With no fans in the stands throughout last year's shortened regular season, Stanton and his teammates played in empty ballparks, serenaded by the steady buzz (and occasional roar) of fake crowd noise emanating from the speaker systems.

"No more fan-pumped crowds!" Luke Voit said when asked about fans returning to ballparks. "I can't wait, it'll be fun on Sunday, and I think a lot of the other spring training parks are having fans too so I'm excited."

New York opens its slate of exhibition games on Sunday, Feb. 28 when the Toronto Blue Jays come to town. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET.

It certainly won't be the same as past spring training openers, as the vast majority of the seats at Steinbrenner Field will still be unoccupied, but Voit isn't complaining.

"It feels like it's been like five years since we played in front of fans so I can't wait," he said. "You'll probably get a little ovation even if you get a single, which will feel awesome. And they do the Opening Day lineups. I'm excited."

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Published Feb 25, 2021

MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Yankees for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. Goodman has been on the Yankees beat for three seasons. He is also the publisher of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Jets site, Jets Country. Before starting Inside The Pinstripes, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. At school, Goodman was an anchor and reporter with NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. While at Northwestern, Goodman interned with MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman. You can connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.