Fans who bought tickets for a Fenway Park concert in 2020 could see their patience rewarded if this summer’s slate of shows goes ahead as planned. The first is scheduled for July 16 but depends on the public health situation continuing to improve.

Massachusetts will move into Step 1 of Phase IV of reopening on March 22, according to Governor Charlie Baker. Stadiums will reopen at 12% capacity, which will limit Fenway to about 4,500 attendees for games and shows until restrictions ease further.

Baker has been willing to reverse reopening. He re-imposed Step 1, Phase III restrictions on December 13 as the number of Massachusetts cases surged to record highs.

Infections are currently trending down: Massachusetts recorded a weekly average of 1,400 new cases per day on March 8, down from 2,697 on February 8, and 6,363 on January 8. But infection rates are still several times greater than during the July to October slump.

General public Phase III vaccination for Massachusetts residents is projected to open in April. President Biden has said there will be enough doses for every American by the end of May.

Distribution will take weeks or months, but if accurate, that suggests a major loosening of concert restrictions by mid-summer is possible.

The concert schedule is premised on that. nine concerts are planned in 2021, down from twelve last year. All currently scheduled concerts are postponements, and tickets from 2020 shows will be honored. Canceled shows were refunded. Boston natives New Kids on the Block will kick off the season on Friday, July 16, 2021. This will be the former boy band’s only 2021 concert appearance. Singer songwriter Leon Bridges had planned to accompany the group but is not currently billed.

Def Leppard and Motley Crue will play back to back, Saturday, July 17 and Sunday, July 18 with two guest acts, Poison and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

Early August will see another crowded week, with four concerts over five days.

Guns N’ Roses will play Tuesday, August 3. The Smashing Pumpkins was scheduled to play with them but are not currently billed. New Yorker and Fenway favorite Billy Joel will return to the Park for a seventh time on Wednesday, August 4. His original 2020 appearance would have set a record for consecutive appearances by the artist at the Park.

Joel has sold the most albums of any act performing this summer.

Green Day, Fall Out Boy,and Weezer, will perform Thursday, August 5 as part of their Hella Mega Tour totaling 28 stops. The Fenway Park show will include an appearance by Los Angeles ska punk band The Interrupters.

Pop star Lady Gaga will round out the August cluster on Saturday, August 7.

Maroon 5 will play Sunday, September. 12 and Aerosmith will play on Tuesday, September 14.

Founded in Boston in 1970, Aerosmith is the best-selling group act scheduled to perform at Fenway this summer.

The concert billings state that all plans are premised on approval by the City.