As fans pack into Globe Life Field, Texas Rangers aren’t strongly enforcing their own mask policy

Baseball fans at Globe Life Field have largely not worn masks this season, and the Rangers realize it. The decision to open at 100% went against precedent set nationwide for restricting capacity at sporting events. College sports, pro golf and tennis tournaments and other pro teams — including all other 29 MLB teams — have limited capacity in some way. The Rangers, though, assured the public that every measure would be taken to protect the safety of their fans and workers. They committed to having socially distanced sections after opening day, hand sanitizing stations and, most importantly, the mandatory requirement of masks when not actively eating or drinking.

Short of staying away from these largely attended events, which attract tens of thousands of people, experts say mask wearing is the best way to protect people from the spread of COVID-19. But masks have been largely absent at Globe Life Field at Rangers games through the first two home series of the season. And Rangers officials know it. “What weight do we give the customers wanting to be there?” asked Rob Matwick, the Rangers executive vice president of business operations. “We’re not forcing anyone to come to the games. I mean, people are making the decisions of their own free will. “The person choosing to not wear the mask is the person putting themselves at risk.” The CDC says otherwise. Erin Carlson, director of graduate public health programs at the University of Texas at Arlington, spoke to The Dallas Morning News before opening day about Rangers games possibly causing spread in the community. She assessed the risk of individuals attending games. “If you have been fully vaccinated and you are concerned only about the risk to yourself, then go to the game and enjoy it. Live again,” Carlson said. “But if you have others in your life who have not been vaccinated, then that’s where we still need to be very vigilant.”