Jazz open courtside seats for rest of regular season and NBA playoffs

The Utah Jazz will allow fans to sit courtside in Vivint Arena for the remainder of the regular season and the NBA playoffs. All NBA teams have had seats next to the floor blocked off for the majority of the year in order to create a buffer between game attendees and the players, coaches and game management staffs.

The new guidelines increased the allowed seating capacity at Vivint Arena to 6,700 — about 33 percent of the normal crowd size. There are some stipulations, however. In order to sit as close as possible to the action, fans must show proof of being fully vaccinated as well as a negative COVID-19 rapid test result. There will be no proof of vaccination needed for any of the other fans in attendance, though all regular health and safety protocols, including mandatory masks, do remain. Masks are still required to be worn while not actively eating or drinking, and groups are asked to maintain a 6-foot distance between each other.

The Jazz have slowly allowed more and more fans into the arena as the season has progressed. When fans were first admitted in December, only 1,500 were allowed in, with the full upper bowl closed. In February, the upper bowl was opened and attendance was increased to just under 4,000 fans. After the All-Star break in March, the Jazz upped the limited capacity to 5,600.

As of May 10, the Jazz have four regular season games remaining, concluding the season with a road game with the Sacramento Kings on May 16. As a high seed, the team will likely begin its playoff run on May 22.