Thunder Bay is working on allowing more players and spectators at its city-owned arenas.

City Manager Norm Gale confirms the city is hiring a temporary full-time coordinator to lead a COVID-19 screening program.

It will take as much as eight weeks to recruit, schedule, and train volunteers, although Gale says the screener training takes only around three hours.

While the city prepares to recruit and train volunteer screeners, Gale said the city is redirecting staff and contracted security staff to screen visitors to its satellite arenas.

Gale asks spectators to be patient with screeners and city staff, saying he’s seen “invective, bullying, and intimidation” on social media and over email.

“It’s not okay,” Gale says. “We serve [the public], but that doesn’t give people a license to harass people.”

The city will also keep working with user groups to figure out their spectator needs.

For now, limits will remain the same at the city’s arenas.

That means 1,600 people will be allowed at the Fort William Gardens for Friday night’s Thunder Bay North Stars match.

More details to come.