The Buffalo Bills are the latest NFL team to join the growing list of organizations that will require fans to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination to attend games, and the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers are expected to follow suit soon, with both regions getting government direction to do so.
In Buffalo, the Bills joined county executives on Tuesday to announce the new rules, which will require at least one dose of the vaccine in order to attend the Sept. 26 home game at Highmark Stadium, and full vaccination by the end of October. No exceptions to the vaccination requirement will be granted for medical conditions or religious reasons, Erie County officials said. The same requirements will also apply to events at KeyBank Center, home of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.
A report in the Buffalo News quoted Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz as saying the new order was not a response to lax following of masking rules at the Bills’ first home game this season, when reports said that there was widespread numbers of fans ignoring the wear-a-mask mandate. Like the rules at the Las Vegas Raiders’ home venue, Allegiant Stadium, in Buffalo masks will no longer be required of fans in either venue once the full mandate goes into effect in late October. This past Monday night, the Raiders hosted the first NFL game with vaccination-proof requirements. The New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks have also announced plans to check fans for proof of vaccination or a recent negative Covid-19 test.
SoFi Stadium says it will comply with forthcoming health orders
While nothing has yet been officially announced, news reports Wednesday said that Los Angeles County is expected to issue an updated Covid-19 health order later this week that will require proof of vaccination to attend large outdoor events of 10,000 people or more. According to reports that quoted county health officials as a source, the order is expected to affect NFL games at SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers, as well as Dodger Stadium, where MLB’s Dodgers will likely be playing into October, when the measure is expected to go into effect.
In fact, on Wednesday SoFi Stadium tweeted that it would follow the forthcoming order, requiring fans wanting to attend events at SoFi Stadium to either show proof of vaccination or a recent negative Covid-19 test. The tweet said more information would be forthcoming about how the checking procedures would take place. To speed the process in Las Vegas, the Raiders opened up verification sites the weekend before the Monday night game, giving fans a chance to get their status checked without having to stand in game-time lines. In addition to NFL teams, several college teams and other large venues like conference centers and live events are also embracing the growing trend of requiring vaccination proof for attendance.
Update, 9/19: Here is the official statement from the Rams.
