NASHUA – There was joy at Holman Stadium on Monday, not to mention activity.

Nashua Silver Knights manager Kyle Jackson was able to hold a small morning workout with about 15 players for the first time.

“Today,” Jackson said around noon,“was the first day I’ve been happy to go to work.”

His general manager, Cam Cook, along with assistant GM Katie Arend were fielding phone calls galore. And Cook, a former Knights player, had to go outside and “throw a baseball to somebody.”

Good feelings galore. Why? Because the Futures Collegiate Baseball League announced that morning, as expected, that there will be a 2020 season beginning Thursday, July 2. Nashua will open up at home vs. North Shore that evening beginning at 6 p.m. and have home games on Friday July 3 and Sunday, July 5. Weeknights and Saturday games start at 6 and Sundays are at 3 p.m.

What can fans expect? First, there are rules for masks. In your seat, not required. Everywhere else in the park, yes.

“It’s very much like outdoor dining,” Cook said. “When you show up, you have your mask on. When you’re going to your seat, you have your mask on. When you’re in your seat, you can eat your food, drink your beer whatever. But if you get up to go to the bathroom or concessions, that mask needs to be back on.”

As far as seating goes, Cook said finding the exact number was tough due to social distancing. Season ticket holders and families can sit together, but general admission ticket holders will be directed to seats that will allow for social distancing. “We’ll have seats X’d out or taped out, without it looking scary,” Cook said. “The fans will be understanding, but it will be weird at times.”

One thing Cook said will be different is fans can take lawn chairs and sit out in the Kids Zone area down the left field line or out in the picnic area just behind the brick wall.

“That might be pretty awesome for the fans,” he said. “If you do want to come but you’re a little worried, that’s about as far away (from most fans) as you can get.”

A couple of things transpired in the last week with regard to Nashua. One, the team held a walk through with city officials, include Nashua city director of public health director Bobbie Bagley, going over their extensive health and safety plan, and got a favorable response.

“They said ‘This is perfect, if you can follow it to a ‘T’, it’s golden,” Cook said the word was from the city.

Team owner John Creedon, Jr. said Monday he will defer to the city’s advice as to how often the players should be tested.

Then, on Friday, the state’s 2.0 Guidance, which previously allowed sports activities vs. athletes from Maine and Vermont only as far as non-New Hampshire competition, was expanded to allow Massachusetts teams/athletes to compete in the state. The Knights were set to lobby the state heavily before that happened.

“The rule was changed before we got too deep into it,” Cook said. “Whether it was some of our friends here in Nashua using their connections. … One way or another it was changed. That’s what I’ve been waiting for for three or four months.

“I was seriously worried we were going to be playing 20 games on the road (to start) and then 20 at home.”

There will be some changes. Beers will be plastic bottles and cans, wiped down, no drafts. The Thirsty Thursday $1 beer and fountain drink night will be replaced by half priced beverages in the containers. Also, there will be no fireworks nights.

“The phone’s been ringing off the hook,” Cook said. “And no negatives, the fans have been pretty positive.”

Indeed, the news was greeted with favorable response.

“They’re all thrilled,” Silver Knights fan Ray Smith of Nashua said of his fellow season ticket holders. “It saved my summer, that’s what it did.”

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