Indy 500 will be world's largest sporting event since the pandemic's start

[ASFN Admin]

Next month's Indianapolis 500, at 40% capacity, will be the world's biggest sporting event since the start of COVID-19, Indianapolis Motor Speedway confirmed in a statement Wednesday.Why it matters: The COVID-19 pandemic has hobbled many aspects of community life, including sports. That such a large sporting event is moving forward indicates the success of the U.S. vaccination campaign, as well as the buoyed confidence in the IMS's virus protocols.Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for freeDetails: Seating at the race will be socially distanced, but 135,000 fans will be able to witness the race in-person. Other safety measures include required face coverings, temperature checks and dispersed hand sanitizer stations. What they're saying: “The city and state have worked with us to identify the appropriate health and safety precautions so that we can successfully host a limited but very enthusiastic crowd," Douglas Boles, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, said in the statement.For comparison's sake, the NCAA allowed 8,000 fans in Indianapolis for the April 5 men's March Madness final.The Alabama spring football game last weekend hosted 47,218 fans.An Australian Rules cricket match in Melbourne drew 51,723 in March.More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free

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