NY Mets home opener Thursday against Miami Marlins

Flushing, N.Y.: The New York Mets have cardboard cutouts of fans in the seats while playing the New York Yankees in a pre-season exhibition game at Citi Field in Flushing, New York on July 18, 2020. (Photo by J. Conrad Williams Jr./Newsday via Getty …

The NY Mets open the 2021 season at CitiField Thursday against the Miami Marlins and against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.

CitiField has been used as a COVID vaccination site for Queens residents. Thursday, it will welcome up to 8,492 fans after 557 days since the Mets last played in front of fans at the stadium. Everyone who enters the stadium must present a negative COVID test or proof of vaccination.

NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo allowed CitiField and Yankee Stadium to reopen as of April 1 at 20 percent capacity.

RELATED: Beginning April 1, Yankee Stadium, CitiField, other sports venues to increase capacity

No paper tickets will be accepted and all transactions at food and beverage stands will be digital.

Fans ages two and older must wear masks expect while eating or drinking at their seats.

More information on the Mets’ ticketing policy is available at http://www.mets.com/2021updates.

Game time is 1:10 p.m. Meteorologist Mike Woods is calling for a warm day with sunny skies.

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NY Mets game forecast

Meteorologist Mike Woods says the forecast looks sunny and mild for the NY Mets home opener.

RELATED: NY Mets season opener against Washington Nationals postponed due to COVID concerns

The Mets (1-2) season opener between the Mets and the Washington Nationals was postponed last week after three players for the 2019 World Series champions tested positive for COVID-19.