Some things are starting to go back to normal again following the province's latest COVID-19 lockdown, especially for London's baseball fans.
The London Majors return to Labatt Park on Friday to play their home opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sold-out stadium.
All available tickets for Friday's game were scooped up in just four days. This is the first time since the pandemic started that they've been able to have fans cheering them on, as they only played one game last year which was closed to fans.
London Majors owner and field manager Roop Chanderdat said it's taken a lot of work behind the scenes to prepare for the home opener but is excited to see the fans showing so much interest.
"We're pumped and excited to get going and to play in front of our fans and playing at historic Labatt Park also has a lot of meaning," Chanderdat said.
Under Step 2 of Ontario's Roadmap to Reopen plan, outdoor sports games can go ahead at 25 per cent capacity, which translates to around 1,000 fans allowed to cheer on the team from Labatt Park's bleachers.
Chanderdat added fans who missed out on getting tickets for Friday's game shouldn't fret, as tickets are still available for Sunday's home game against the Barrie Baycats.
"We've got other games coming up," said Chanderdat. "So we encourage people to go online and start getting tickets for those games and the subsequent games thereafter."
While the return of baseball in the Forest City is exciting, Chanderdat urges fans to be patient, to ensure the experience is a safe one. Attendees will be asked to social-distance and to sit with members of their household. Masks will still be required, but only when fans are moving to and from their seats.
The London Majors will be home for 15 games this season, giving fans ample opportunity to come out and support the team. The teams' full schedule, and tickets for home games, can be found online.
