The Vernon Vipers hope to get back to larger crowds at Kal Tire Place now that capacity limits have been lifted. (Facebook/Vernon Vipers)

By Pete McIntyre

capacity limit lifted

Vipers can now fill Kal Tire Place, but it may take time for fans to return

Dec 1, 2021 | 1:00 PM

There is a mood of excitement, but also some uncertainty, with the Vernon Vipers now that B.C. health officials have lifted capacity limits for indoor sporting and other events.

“It’s exciting for us. It’s an announcement that we’ve been waiting for for a long time to put us in the same position as a lot of other junior teams and events in other areas of the province,” said Vipers executive vice president Todd Miller.

Miller told Vernon Matters the change gives the BCHL team some flexibility in some areas they haven’t had.

“I think it will encourage people who maybe were hesitant on coming out because they weren’t sure they would get a ticket at the last minute. I think we’ll see a lot of those type people coming back, but I do think we have our work cut out for us here.”

Miller said it’s been a “long grind” through COVID and the pod season last year without fans in the stands.

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“I do think it’s going to take a little while here for fans to all completely jump back in and for us to go back to what we were used prior to COVID.”

Miller doesn’t expect the club to get a clear indication of what 100 per cent capacity will mean for 30 to 60 days until they host some bigger games or get into the stretch drive of the season.

“I guess we’ll see what happens. It’s kind of a holding pattern, and we’ll continue to enforce the rules in place with the masks and everything else.”

The Vipers are now able to sell as many tickets as possible starting with tonight’s game against the West Kelowna Warriors. Kal Tire Place holds about 3,000 spectators, so with the capacity limits, games were limited to around 1,500, which is roughly how many people showed up for last Saturday’s game against the Penticton Vees.

The Vipers have their popular Beach Radio Teddy Bear Toss game this Saturday when the Cranbrook Bucks will be the opposition, a replacement for the Coquitlam Express due to the road closures in B.C.

Anyone age 18 or over attending Vipers games has to provide their BC vaccine card along with a photo ID before entering the arena. Kids age 12 to 17, are required to show their vaccine card but no ID.

Miller said they haven’t had any major issues in having to check for vaccinations.

“I’d like to commend our fans that attend our games. There have been very few reports from our front door people about issues with vaccine passports and checking identification,” he said

The Vipers acquired Talon Zakall and Luke Lavery in a five-player deal with the Merritt Centennials on Tuesday. The Snakes also traded for centre Max Borovinskiy from the Prince George Spruce Kings earlier this week. Borovinskiy and Zackall are expected to play for their new team tonight.

“Our start hasn’t been exactly been great, and sometimes a change in personnel will help energize things a little bit,” said Miller on the trades which were orchestrated by GM and coach Jason McKee.

The Vipers have lost their last six games.