SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The D-backs will allow fans into Chase Field at the start of the regular season with an initial maximum of 25 percent capacity, which translates to about 12,000.

"We’ll do it in a very appropriately distanced way," D-backs team president/CEO Derrick Hall said during FOX Sports Arizona's broadcast of Sunday's Cactus League game against the Cubs. "Hopefully, things will go smooth, we’ll see these numbers continue to go down and we can offer many more seats in the second, third, fourth month, if we can."

Like all Major League Baseball teams last year, the D-backs did not allow any fans into the stands during the regular season.

With the number of COVID-19 cases falling, the D-backs received approval from the necessary state and local government entities for their plan to allow fans.

As the summer goes on and more and more people receive a COVID-19 vaccine, the team will explore increasing the number of fans allowed.

The D-backs have been allowing about 2,200 into each game at Salt River Fields this spring, spacing out the bowl seating while marking off socially distanced areas on each of the outfield berms.

Fans have been required to wear masks except when they are actively eating or drinking, and that will be the case at Chase Field this summer as well.

"It's worked out very well," Hall said. "They understand when they're coming here there are some rules and protocols that they have to follow. We have not seen any issues."