Monday, the City of Philadelphia announced that there would be a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for indoor dining and drinking. However, because Wells Fargo Center serves food and beverage, the arena will also be subject to the order. As a result, Wells Fargo Center, where the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers play their home games, will now require patrons to provide vaccine cards to enter events. Reporter Miguel Martinez-Valle, for NBC Philadelphia, first reported the news on Twitter.
“JUST NOW: City clarifies this also includes Wells Fargo Center. So people must show proof of Vax to attend Flyers or Sixers games.”
Miguel Martinez-Valle
While Philadelphia will put the mandate into effect on January 3, the City has announced that there will be a grace period before the order takes full effect. From January 3 until January 17, establishments will also accept a negative COVID test within 24 hours for entry. Regardless of the vaccine mandate, Wells Fargo Center will maintain its mask requirement when not eating and drinking indoors.
Philadelphia is not the only city with a vaccine mandate
With Philadelphia’s mandate, the Sixers join the Knicks, the Nets, Toronto, and Golden State as the only stadiums in the NBA that require proof of vaccination for entry. However, around half of all NBA teams require a negative test or evidence of vaccine to attend. With new variants of COVID-19 and the pandemic still raging, it seems likely other cities will follow similar actions.
While the pandemic has disrupted many aspects of everyday life, it has also wreaked havoc on professional sports. In the NBA, the vaccine has caused quite a stir among players. Players who refuse to get vaccinated are the focus of the media. While�Kyrie Irving has become the poster child�for unvaccinated NBA players, mandates like the one in Philadelphia and New York may bring about more publicity to players who are skeptical of the vaccine.
We’ll see if more cities decide to use vaccine mandates in the coming months. While the NBA may not require the vaccine, more cities instating an order would likely bring about more conversations about the vaccination status of players.
