Last year was one to forget for Indianapolis Colts fans.
Not only was Lucas Oil Stadium forced to seat fewer than 15% of its full capacity, but training camp was held behind closed doors, meaning that fans were deprived of watching the annual preseason tune-up in person for the first time since we can remember.
Luckily for fans, it’s been trending in the direction that Colts training camp will return to Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield this offseason.
On Tuesday, that was confirmed, as the Colts released their full training camp schedule, which will get underway on July 27. The first practice that’ll be open to fans will come the following day on July 28, and there will be 18 more opportunities to catch the action up close.
A look at the training camp schedule for the Colts. https://t.co/ERPJYNsyyx
— TheColtsWire (@TheColtsWire) June 29, 2021
The Colts’ official training camp schedule is huge news for fans.
Let’s start with the bad news, if you can even call it that. The Colts announced that “fans will not be permitted to interact with players or coaches and must maintain a 20-foot distance from players and coaches.” That likely means no autographs, which is a buzzkill in a sense.
With that out of the way, it’s with great pleasure that we confirm the Hamilton County Health Department has relaxed some of its COVID-19 protocols. For starters, the Colts wont have any capacity restrictions, clearing the way for big crowds to gather and watch the team practice.
On top of that, there will be no COVID-19 screenings required for entry. The Colts are also encouraging fans to wear masks/face coverings, though they’ll be optional. However, a separate “mask required” section will be available for fans who’ve been deemed high-risks by health experts, or those who would simply rather sit in a mask-dominated area.
After a year away from Grand Park, the Colts are ensuring that fans of all ages will have some incentive to watch them practice at camp. With themes like “Youth Sports Day,” “Hall of Fame Day,” “Fan Appreciation Day,” and “Frontline Worker Appreciation Day,” good luck making an excuse to not attend at least one of these practices.
Colts Announce 2021 NFL Training Camp Schedule; No Capacity Restrictions https://t.co/TDZ5BGN0Xm
— Stampede Blue (@StampedeBlue) June 29, 2021
This is an absolutely huge day for Colts fans, and it’s been a long time coming. Let’s hope this foreshadows an even bigger announcement down the road regarding whether Lucas Oil Stadium will return to full capacity for Week 1 of the 2021 regular season.
We wouldn’t advise getting overly confident, but this is definitely an encouraging sign.
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