COVID-19 READINESS PLAN A GUIDE TO OPERATING CHS FIELD
COVID-19 READINESS PLAN
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1. GENERAL STATEMENT
On behalf of the St. Paul Saints, the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins and a member of the Triple-A East in the Major League Baseball Professional Development Leagues, the practices identified below represent practical best efforts to proactively invest and keep our community safe when attending functions, events and games at CHS Field, in preparation for the 2021 season. The outlined steps and initiatives are intended to preserve the safety of staff, players, fans, and guests. The Saints will continue to follow the guidance of national, state and local agencies, as well as the directives of Major League Baseball, to develop these policies for hosting events at CHS Field. The input of public health and medical partners play a significant role in informing the policies below.
2. MASK REQUIREMENT
A. In accordance with the MaskUpMN mandate all employees and guests will be required to wear protective masks inside of CHS Field. I. All staff members shall be required to wear protective masks, as necessitated by current guidelines and best practices policies. II. Fans will be required to wear protective masks throughout the duration of their visit, except for when eating or drinking while seated in their reserved seats.
3. COMMUNICATION / MESSAGING
A. Saints will communicate directly with ticket purchasers via comprehensive pre and post event emails providing detailed information regarding the fan experience as it related to the COVID Readiness Plan. B. Saints will communicate with fans attending events at CHS Field through the following: I. Posted “Stay Safe MN”, “Mask Up MN”, and “Social Distancing” signage in areas with high visibility to fans, employees and team personnel. II. Other awareness and instructional signage posted throughout the ballpark. III. Frequent video and public address announcements will promote proper cleanliness, distancing and similar health practices for customers. C. Saints will communicate externally through social media and e-blast awareness campaigns highlighting best practices for guests visiting CHS Field.
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4. BALLPARK CLEANING & SANITIZATION
A. The Saints will work with their facility cleaning partner, Marsden Building Services to implement event cleaning protocols at a standard consistent with proper guidelines, utilizing 2020 season protocols as a base implementation. I. All cleaning staff will be required to wear protective masks and gloves at all times while working. II. Utilize map of socially distant seating manifest to concentrate additional cleaning anywhere fans were seated. III. Utilize back-pack sprayers to disinfect the seating bowl prior to each event. IV. Seating bowl will receive extensive sanitizing wash following every event. V. Event cleaning team will sanitize and disinfect all facility touchpoints multiple times during each event including, but not limited to, tables, countertops, and drink rails. VI. Event cleaning team will sanitize and disinfect all touchpoints in each restroom multiple times during each event. VII. Hand sanitizers will be placed strategically throughout the facility in both customer-facing and back-of-house locations for use by both employees and guests.
5. SOCIALLY DISTANT SEATING
A. The Saints have developed a seating manifest which allows for proper distancing, thus decreasing overall ballpark capacity. In adherence with MLB guidelines tickets may be purchased in pods of up to six (6) seats. Each pod will be distanced from each adjacent pod by six (6) feet. (see diagram below) B. Selected seats will remain vacant to maintain proper distancing between familial parties. No guests will have other guests seated in the seats in front, behind, or to the side of their reserved seats. All guests will be able to access an aisle without crossing in front of other guests in that row. C. Group and hospitality areas will operate with reduced capacity to promote proper distancing.
STAIRS (GREY)
6’ BUFFER OF UNUSED SEATS BETWEEN AVAILABLE SEATS AND AISLE (YELLOW) SEATS AVAILABLE FOR SALE (BLUE)
COVID-19 READINESS PLAN
UNUSED SEATS (WHITE)
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6. VENUE PLAN A. In accordance with the Minnesota Department of Health and the StaySafeMN task force, this plan
has been designed to comply with the guidance developed for outdoor entertainment venues. I. A maximum of 2,100 fans per game (approximately 27% of capacity) II. All seats or seating areas will be reserved allowing for a controlled environment III. Socially distant seating will be available in the reserved seating bowl (sections 101-120, the Treasure Island Berm (utilizing reserved seating boxes, premium group areas (utilizing reserved tables), the Suite level, and the Securian Financial Club. IV. Multiple socially distant entry/exit gates will be utilized. Upon purchasing tickets, fans will be directed to enter through a recommended gate determined by their seat location. V. Concourse – full 360 degree concourse will be open to all guests allowing for the maximum available space to be utilized when accessing restrooms, concessions, and team stores. Concourse traffic will be controlled through the use of stanchions, signage, public address, and direct communication with guests, directing them to follow right side traffic procedures. VI. Concession points of sale and team store locations will be staged with stanchions and floor marking to allow for proper social distancing (see images below from 2020 implementation). VII. Restrooms – sinks and urinals will be closed in an alternating pattern to limit capacity and allow for proper social distancing (see images below from 2020 implementation). VIII. Masks will be required for visitors throughout their time at CHS Field, but can be removed while seated and/or eating and drinking. IX. Concourse will be stanchioned to provide a safe, predictable walking traffic pattern for fans. X. Dugouts and Bullpens will be cleaned before and after every game. Additional rules with respect to these common areas will be developed and implemented to best ensure player, staff and fan health and safety. The Team will adhere to MLB’s “buffer zone” guidelines to ensure proper distancing between fans and players/on-field staff. B. The Saints will communicate with fans via email, text, and social media in advance of their game to provide specific instructions on parking, entrance, masking, and health screening.
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6.A.VI
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6.A.VII
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7. STAFFING POLICIES
A. Health Screening - All full-time and part-time staff will be required to complete a daily online symptoms survey (Proventus, web-based symptom tracking software) prior to being cleared for work. B. Temperature check for all part-time, full-time, contracted third-party staff members, and interns prior to entering the ballpark. C. All staff members shall be required to wear protective masks, as necessitated by current guidelines and best practices policies. D. Staff will be instructed to make the following changes to fan-facing interactions, without limitation: I. Prohibit handshaking and physical contact with guests and other employees. II. Employees will be required to wear protective masks when handing items to fans. III. Prior to the start of each shift, and continuing when appropriate, employees will be required to wash their hands and put on a new pair of gloves. E. Ongoing training to educate staff on new, updated guidelines and procedures.
8. CLUBHOUSE & ON-FIELD PERSONNEL
A. In order to ensure that all players, coaches, medical staff and clubhouse staff are provided with the safest possible work environment the Saints will adhere to the Major League Baseball health and Wellness Guide. In addition, we will collaborate with our Major League affiliate partner (Minnesota Twins) to establish and implement safety protocols including, but not limited to the following: B. The Saints will adhere to the guidance of Major League Baseball and the Minnesota Twins regarding player and on-field personnel health and safety, including travel, media/fan interaction, dugouts, etc.
9. CHS FIELD ENTRY / EXIT
A. Refer to #6, IV (Venue Plan) B. Fans will receive a recommended entry gate during the ticket purchase process. On the day of their selected game they will receive an email from the Saints ticket office which includes directions to their gate and recommendations for parking nearby. C. All patrons will be subject to health screenings prior to entry. D. In an effort to streamline bag checks, the Saints will implement a no bag policy for all guests, except for small purses, medical bags and diaper bags. E. The Saints will work with local law enforcement to encourage proper distancing upon entry, including, without limitation, walkways and sidewalks leading to ballpark entrances. F. Stanchions and/or spacing markers will promote proper distancing between customers waiting in lines. G. Security wanding that places employees within 6 feet of customers will be replaced by new security protocols.
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10. FAN EXPERIENCE
A. Kids Zone I. The Saints will not operate traditional kids zone attractions such as bounce houses. II. Other attractions that allow for proper distancing will be subject to heightened safety standards, including disinfecting between users and proper distancing while waiting in line. B. Concourse Flow I. Refer to #6 (Venue Plan). II. Stanchions and/or spacing markers will promote proper distancing between customers waiting in lines on the main concourse. III. In the event of rainstorms, or other situations requiring customers to find cover, the Saints will expand access to covered areas to ensure proper distancing. C. Restrooms I. Doors will be propped open to encourage touchless entry/exit. II. Restrooms will be sanitized frequently with disinfectant along all surfaces and an enzyme solution will be applied to all surfaces at the conclusion of each homestand. III. The Saints shall work in conjunction with its various partners to evaluate touchless enhancements, including motion-sensor dispensers and flush valves. IV. Every other sink and urinal stations will be disabled to allow for proper distancing. D. Team Store I. The Saints shall limit the number of people allowed inside the team store based on current social distancing guidelines. II. Stanchions and/or spacing markers will promote proper distancing between customers waiting in line and walking through the store. E. Promotions/On-Field Activities: Saints will collaborate with, and adhere to guidance provide by Major League Baseball to include, but not be limited to the following: I. Autograph sessions with players will not be permitted. II. Players will not be permitted to throw baseballs or other items into seating areas. III. All between-inning promotions will abide by proper distancing guidelines. IV. On-field activities such as Ceremonial First Pitches will be conducted with heightened restrictions which shall include, without limitation, proper distancing, the wearing of protective gloves and/or masks and tossing to a family member as opposed to a player. With respect to the singing of the National Anthem, a sneeze guard on the microphone stand will be used. F. Medical Services I. The Saints will work closely with its community medical partners to implement stringent protocols in place for medical services at all CHS Field events.
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11. TICKET PURCHASE / SERVICING
A. All ticketing will be digital (with limited exceptions) B. Select ticket windows will be closed to ensure proper distancing between patrons. C. As a general practice, no tickets will be printed and handed on-site. Instead, box office personnel will email tickets to a customer’s device. D. Stanchions and/or spacing markers will promote proper distancing between customers waiting in lines. E. Season ticket and group/hospitality customers will utilize contactless ticket distribution; all subsequent exchanges or additional ticket requests will be conducted electronically.
12. FOOD AND BEVERAGE POLICIES
A. The Saints will work with their food service provider, Professional Sports Catering (a subsidiary of Levy Restaurants), to implement standards consistent with proper guidelines (see attached Reopening Health and Safety Guidance from Levy Restaurants). I. All employees will be required to wear protective masks and gloves. II. Additional staff positions will be hired specifically to disinfect surfaces before, during and after events. III. Condiments and similar items will be served using pre-packaged servings as opposed to communal servings. Most offerings will be pre-packaged. Catering staff will serve any buffet station food offerings.
13. CASHLESS PAYMENT
A. The Saints will operate, with limited exception, cashless facilities, including in the areas of parking, food/beverage, ticketing, and merchandise. This will limit direct contact between employees and guests.
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