MIAMI -- The Marlins on Thursday announced they are pursuing the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Marlins Park through the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). In the upcoming weeks, the club also plans to announce additional health and safety measures that will be put in place for 2021 home games. Opening Day is scheduled for April 1 at 4:10 p.m. ET against the Rays.

According to its website, the WELL Health-Safety Rating focuses on operational policies, maintenance protocols and emergency plans to keep spaces clean and sanitized, provide essential health benefits and services, communicate health and safety efforts, help everyone prepare for an emergency as well as assess air and water quality in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the successful completion of third-party documentation review, Marlins Park would be awarded the WELL Health-Safety Rating, which would let everyone entering the facility know that evidence-based measures have been adopted and verified.

Yankee Stadium became the first sports and entertainment venue to achieve this distinction in August 2020, while the BB&T Center, home to the NHL's Florida Panthers, was the first in South Florida. Marlins Park serves as a COVID-19 testing and vaccination site.

"The health and safety of our fans and guests, along with our players, coaches and staff, is of the utmost importance to our organization,¡± said Michael Shaw, Marlins head of experience and innovation. "Certifying Marlins Park with the WELL Health-Safety Rating should further build guest confidence in the preventative measures being applied to fan experiences throughout the ballpark."

Since new ownership took over, the Marlins have applied proactive measures for ballpark guests and event attendees. In March 2020, the organization and Miami Parking Authority announced the integration of free-flow parking for home games -- a process that eases the arrival experience for fans with contactless, mobile payment. Inside the ballpark, the safety netting was expanded along each foul line.

The WELL Health-Safety Rating provides a centralized source and governing body to validate efforts made by owners and operators. It leverages insights drawn from the IWBI Task Force, in addition to guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), global disease control and prevention centers as well as emergency management agencies on the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. Recognized standard-making associations such as ASTM International and ASHRAE, leading academic and research institutions and core principles already established by IWBI¡¯s WELL Building Standard, provide the framework for advancing health in buildings and spaces of all kinds.

For the latest news and updates, visit?Marlins.com/2021Season.