WNBA's New York Liberty to open season at Barclays May 14, but tickets not available yet (because guidelines are expected to change?)

Yesterday, the WNBA released its 2021 schedule, with the 12 teams playing a 32-game season starting May 14, which is when the New York Liberty make their full-season Barclays Center debut.

As ESPN reported, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert was asked about attendance:

"I think it's right now nine of our 12 markets, but we're negotiating on the 10th because you have to negotiate locally as well as with the local health officials," Engelbert said, although the league didn't identify which markets those were. "It'll be reduced, and we're hoping as we go into the Olympic break and come off of that, maybe we can have more full arenas."

Right now New York State is allowing 10% attendance, as I wrote yesterday, which suggests 1,773 max capacity at Barclays for basketball.

But the arena operator and team, owned by Joe Tsai, are surely hedging their bets, since tickets are not available just yet. Surely they hope protocols will change, if not by May 14, then as the season progresses. 

Ticket prices, ticket hopes

The web site does mention the 2020 School Day game Friday, June 2 and the 2020 Camp Day game July 10, with ticket options for $30, $26, and $15, but the link goes to a contact form. That said, maybe the Liberty's $15 seats--remember that promise for the Nets?--will become the "family-friendly" option.

In August 2019, the one regular-season game at Barclays--after an exhibition--the Liberty drew 7,715 versus the Seattle Storm.

As NBC reported yesterday, regarding plans for outdoor attendance at Buffalo Bills games:

New York hopes to use its Excelsior Pass to fast-track the reopening of stadiums, theaters and businesses in accordance with state health guidelines until vaccinations reach critical mass, for which [Gov. Andrew] Cuomo puts the low threshold around 75 percent.