Doubled-vaxxed fans pack the stands at Halifax soccer match
The Halifax Wanderers soccer game Wednesday night was the franchise's first with full capacity -- and with COVID-19 precautions in place.
Staff and fans of the Halifax Wanderers spent the day getting ready for the quarter-final championship match up against Montreal.
"Very, very excited," says fan James Covey, "this is the first time that we've ever played a major league soccer side, so it's a big new step for the club."
But that's not the only reason the game is significant.
Wednesday night marks the first time the franchise has been given the green light from Public Health to operate a full capacity in the past 18 months.
That means more than 6,000 fans in the stands, with all required to show proof vaccination for entry.
Covey says he hasn't heard anyone complain about the requirement.
"Everything I've heard from my fellow supporters have been (that they) love to have that extra security when they show up here," he says.
"And really, we implemented a double vaccination policy a few games ago," says franchise president Derek Martin.
That was with the venue at half capacity, and Martin says those trials went smoothly.
"Public health agreed that we were a safe place we've hosted well over 20,000 fans this year without any incident," Martin adds.
For anyone nervous about the idea of having that many people here, epidemiologist Kevin Wilson says while nothing is without risk in a pandemic, the risk here, remains low.
"Everyone in attendance is ostensibly going to be not just vaccinated, but fully vaccinated," says Wilson, "and it's outdoors, which drastically in itself reduces the risk of transmission."
The HFX Wanderers had about 50 workers manning the gates to keep lines flowing.
"So there's really three steps to coming in, the first step will be a person who will do a vaccine check," says the organization's vice-president of operations, Matt Fagen, "you will show your proof of vaccination there."
That happened at all 14 entry gates, with those gates opening 90 minutes before match time, to get people in early.
Then, once tickets were taken and bags security checked as usual, it's game on.
"Everyone knows the real experience here is all about a packed wanderers ground," says Covey.
It's an experience bound to feel very much like the past -- that many hope marks a better future, as the province aims for phase five of reopening, Oct. 4.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.