“Philadelphia Freedom” took on a new meaning on Tuesday afternoon. The city of Philadelphia will be masking and lifting most of the COVID-19 restrictions except for fully open on June 11th.
The two Philadelphia casinos – Living! Philadelphia Casino and Rivers Casino Philadelphia – can increase the capacity Friday May 21st.
Also the Philadelphia Sixers and the Philadelphia Phillies can have 50% Capacity in the Wells Fargo Center and Citizens Bank Park.
Increased capacity for casinos and stadiums in Philadelphia
Last week, governor Tom Wolf Pennsylvania said it will lift all coronavirus restrictions, expect to wear mask on Remembrance day. For the casinos, this meant that they could expand their capacity to 100%.
Following Wolf’s announcement, Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley did not specify whether the city Philadelphia would follow suit and said they would review the state’s plan. For the past 14 months, Philadelphia has maintained COVID restrictions longer.
The Tuesday afternoon announcement brought the following updates for Philadelphia casinos::
- Casinos can operate a maximum capacity of 50% or 75% maximum capacity when they can meet improved ventilation standards.
- Must enforce a minimum of three feet apart between people of different groups.
- alcohol can be sold to customers on slot machines. Plus, customers no longer have to order groceries to buy alcohol.
- Masking still required.
For Sixers fans at Wells Fargo Center and Phillies fans Citizens Bank Parkwho have favourited updates say:
- If the location has permanent seats, it can be operated there 50% the occupancy limit.
- Must enforce a minimum of three feet apart between people of different groups.
- Masking still required.
Yesterday did Philadelphia Union the MLS said they would open Subaru Park in Chester 100% capacity on June 23. Since it is not within the Philadelphia city limits, it is not subject to its rules.
# 1 Philadelphia Sixers? Team of the year?
The Sixers can win that No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a win tonight against the Indiana Pacers. More fans at the Wells Fargo Center should give the Sixers a big advantage. The Sixers tweeted this statement from Chris Heck, President of Business Operations. It read in part:
“We are excited about the city’s decision to increase capacity to 50 percent in time for the first round of the NBA playoffs in 2021. Our fans have created the most passionate and intense atmosphere in the NBA and it gives us the home edge that our players can take advantage of in the postseason. “
The play-in tournament for the NBA playoffs begins on May 18. The NBA playoffs begin on May 22.
At the BetMGM online sports betting, the Brooklyn networks ((+230) are currently the favorites to win NBA championship. The sixers are +700 to win the championship and +300 win the east.
You can also bet on the Sixers at PA online betting apps like BetMGM exact stage of elimination.
- Win the NBA Championship: +800
- Loss in the final: +400
- Eliminated in the conference finals: +230
- Lose in the conference semifinals: +280
- Displaced in the first round: +250
No insult to Elton John’s “Philadelphia Freedom”, but with fans at Wells Fargo for the playoffs, we’re going to shout “Here come the Sixers”.
More vax, more lax rules
Why are Philadelphia and the state easing restrictions? Elevated Vaccinations and decreasing Case matters.
The statewide percentage positivity for the week April 30 through May 6 was 6.6%.
According to the CDC, from May 11th, approximately 52% of Pennsylvanians over 18 are fully vaccinated. With 9.3 million Shocks Delivered So Far, PA ranks fifth in the United States for total administered doses.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said:
“Today’s announcement was long awaited in our 14 month battle against COVID-19. This moment is possible because of the immense sacrifices Philadelphians of all ages have made over the past year. As we look forward to our recovery, which will be strong, we must keep in mind that the pandemic is not over yet.
“We are not yet declaring victory because cases and hospital stays can recur at any time if we are not diligent. I urge everyone to be wise to keep wearing masks around others and especially to join the more than half a million Philadelphians who have already received their vaccine. “
Long way back to the casinos in Philadelphia
The coronavirus pandemic forced Pennsylvania casinos to close for one Third of the year in 2020. It had a devastating effect on that 20,000 PA Casino employeesas well as casino revenue and the state’s tax coffers.
Timeline of Pennsylvania Casino closings for COVID
- March 12th: The first Pennsylvania casino closed to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
- June 9th: The first two casinos reopened in the state – Rivers Casino Pittsburgh and The Meadows.
- 17th July: The Rivers Casino Philadelphia, the only casino still closed, resumed operations
- 12th of December: Casinos have to be closed for at least three weeks due to the increasing number of cases and hospital stays
- January 4, 2021: PA Casinos reopened
Even when the casinos reopened in the summer and then again in January, they were not allowed to serve alcohol on the gaming floor or offer seating at the bar.
The COVID-19 rules for drinking in casinos are confusing casino managers, lawmakers and casino goers.
At a House Gaming Oversight Committee At a meeting at the end of February, various casino operators spoke about the extent to which there is a lack of beverage service operations hurt and limits the number of food service employees who can be brought back to work.
Chris Albrecht, the general manager of Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino said:
“The [drink service] is certainly an experience that many casino players enjoy enjoying. Obviously when you think about the different seasonal events … March Madness is around the corner … this is certainly an experience that would be of value to our industry in order to recreate some of the revenue we lost during that time. “
The claim confused the committee member and the representative Joe Ciresi (D-Montgomery).
“Wait a minute. If you can do this in Atlantic City, I can’t understand why we can’t do it here in Pennsylvania.”
A rough year for Rivers Casino Philadelphia
Rivers Casino Philadelphia Voluntarily closed in mid-March 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic hit Pennsylvania. It stayed closed for four months and reopened on July 17th. Rivers Casino Philadelphia had that the longest Coronavirus-induced closure of a stationary casino in PA. They unlocked again Reopened November 20th and January 4th for another round of coronavirus abatement closures.
Bud Green, Deputy Managing Director at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, represented parent company Rush Street Gaming at the meeting and spoke on behalf of the Rivers Pittsburgh and Rivers Philadelphia Casinos at the meeting.
Green said:
“Rivers Philadelphia was hit harder than the other casinos in the state as local authorities placed additional restrictions on top of state mitigation efforts. There are unrealistic weaknesses such as not being able to serve alcoholic beverages on the casino floor, restaurant restrictions and closings, and limited event capacity.
“The decline in the number of cases and the introduction of vaccines suggest that a light will come on at the end of the tunnel. However, we are still 50 percent full with no indication of when full capacity can return and when we can serve drinks in the casino or offer to host unrestricted events such as weddings and trade shows that we have held in the past. “
Credit: AP Photo / Matt Slocum
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