ALBANY COUNTY — Albany Empire football will play its first home game on May 29, and it’s being used as a draw for the unvaccinated.

The county will run a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on May 29 at the Beaver Street entrance of the Times Union Center where anyone can get vaccinated — with the one-shot Johnson & Johnson — and also get a free ticket for a future game. A Vax Block Party will be held on the mezzanine with live entertainment and food and drinks for the fully vaccinated.

The team’s coach, Tom Menas, said that some of his players are vaccinated and some are not. “Some, it’s cultural; some, it’s fear,” he said at Friday morning’s county press conference.

Menas urged, “Don’t think of this as getting this shot for yourself. You’re getting it for people you love,” he said, noting that now he can kiss his aunt and hug his grandson.

This year’s team, Menas said, is “a nice blend” of veterans and rookies. The roster includes two locals. “They’re both starting, which is incredible, which goes to show football is a game of opportunity,” said Menas.

The season for the National Arena League is shortened to four home games this year, with possibility of two more playoff games. “God willing, we’ll get through this season unscathed and champions,” the coach concluded.

Bob Beller, the general manager for the county’s Times Union Center, said that masks will be required inside the center unless a fan is seated in  “a vax zone.” Fans not in a vax zone are allowed to take off their masks to eat or drink, he said.

“There is a requirement to show proof of vaccination,” he said. Either an Excelsior Pass or a vaccination card is acceptable. Unvaccinated fans will be admitted if they show proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of a game or a negative rapid test within six hours.

Children will be allowed in a vax section if they are accompanied by a vaccinated adult. “The state is not separating families,” said Beller.

“We’re encouraging vaccination. It’s a great way to stay safe,” Beller concluded.

Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy noted that the center holds 17,000 people but will be used at 33-percent capacity.

He also went over some problems with the Excelsior Pass, noting confusion surrounding the county where someone lives as opposed to the county where they were vaccinated or the county of the vaccine provider.

McCoy said that vaccinations administered by Mohawk Ambulance, even those given in Albany County, are recorded as Schenectady County. Vaccination rates could actually be higher than what is being reported, he said. “We’re looking into that,” McCoy said.

McCoy also said the app for the Excelsior Pass can be confusing, noting that a full name, not a nickname, needs to be used.

McCoy called on the state to come up with “a state-of-the-art public-information system.” He said, “We should invest in a system that actually works for the people.”

Newest numbers

McCoy started Friday’s press conference by announcing the latest county resident to die from COVID-19, a woman in her seventies. This brings the county’s death toll from the disease to 379.

He reported 27 new cases of COVID-19, calling it “definitely higher than what we want to see.” This brings the county’s tally to 24,223.

Of the new cases, 18 did not have clear sources of infection identified, seven had close contact with someone infected with the disease, and two were health-care workers or residents of congregate living settings.

The five-day average for new daily positives increased from 14 to 16.2. There are now 103 active cases in the county, up slightly from 97 on Thursday.

The number of Albany County residents under quarantine increased to 312 from 297. So far, 79,022 residents have completed quarantine. Of those, 24,120 had tested positive and recovered. That is an increase of 19 recoveries since Thursday.

There were three new hospitalizations overnight, and there are now 14 county residents hospitalized from the virus — a net decrease of one. There are currently five patients in intensive-care units, down from seven on Thursday.

In Albany County and also in New York State, as of Thursday, as a seven-day rolling average, the infection rate for both was 1.0 percent, according to the state’s dashboard.

According to the state’s vaccine tracker, 60.1 percent of Albany County’s 317,117 residents have received at least one dose of vaccine.

Statewide, 51.3 percent of New Yorkers have received one dose.