Ontario sports venues can return to 50% capacity Feb. 21, full capacity March 14
Ontario announced a three-step plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions on Thursday that will affect fan capacity at the province's indoor sporting venues, per Sean Davidson of CTV News.
The plan is set to gradually reopen the province and will affect the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, as well as the NBA's Toronto Raptors.
From Jan. 31 to Feb. 20, the province will allow a maximum of 500 spectators at indoor sporting venues. From Feb. 21 to March 13, venues will be limited to 50% fan capacity. Ontario will then lift all capacity limits on March 14.
The province is currently not allowing any fans at indoor sporting venues.
The Senators have 15 home games scheduled before March 14, while the Maple Leafs have 10, and the Raptors have nine. Ex-Raptor Kyle Lowry is scheduled to return to Toronto for the first time with the Miami Heat on Feb. 1.
The Maple Leafs are scheduled to play the Buffalo Sabres outdoors at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario, for the Heritage Classic on March 13. It has yet to be determined if the restrictions will affect the status of the game, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Canada's key FIFA World Cup qualifier versus the United States on Jan. 30 - also to be staged at Tim Hortons Field - will permit 50% capacity for spectators.