The Latest: Astros to allow 50% capacity for games in April

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The Houston Astros will permit up to 50% percent capacity at Minute Maid Park for regular-season games in April. The team says that number will allow fans to stay physically distanced inside the stadium.

The home opener for the Astros is April 8 against Oakland. Houston hosts 14 games in April -- Oakland and Detroit visit for three each, the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle play four times.

The last time fans were permitted at Minute Maid Park to see the Astros was Game 7 of the 2019 World Series against Washington. The announced attendance was 43,326.

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The Charlotte Hornets will allow approximately 5,000 fans to attend NBA home games beginning March 26 against Miami, or about 25% percent of the Spectrum Center’s seating capacity.

That’s a 10% increase from the 3,000 fans that were allowed to attend home games beginning March 13.

Under the changes announced Tuesday by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, sports venues were allowed to increase fan attendance to 50% of capacity. But to comply with social distancing guidelines the Hornets were only able to expand to 25% capacity.

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The Preakness will be run in front of a limited capacity of 10,000 fans at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on May 15.

Organizers of the second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown announced the decision Tuesday. Churchill Downs has said it expects the Kentucky Derby to be run in front of roughly 40-50% of capacity May 1 in Louisville. Typically, the Preakness draws over 100,000 spectators.

The Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont were run out of order last year with no fans in attendance. It’s not immediately clear what the capacity will be at Belmont Park on June 5, though New York State has set 10%...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/The-Latest-Georgia-Tech-delays-spring-football-16046317.php