As the days progress, I think we come closer and closer to a definitive starting date for MLB to return. All signs are looking towards an early July official start, with a possible Opening Day on July 4th. I’d assume MLB would want to get back on the field as soon as they can, but a July 4th Opening Day does have this symbolic effect that goes along with it. America’s oldest pastime starting up on it’s birthday would be a major statement and morale booster for our country. Even if we get a July 1st start date, the return of baseball would be symbolic in itself and it would be the first steps toward feeling more of a sense of normality in our world. My guess is that MLB is going to announce something real soon, there are just many obstacles they are trying to overcome at the moment and that is going to take some time.
With that being said the CPBL and the KBO have become rough blueprints as to how MLB could successfully start their season. A major milestone in Taiwan as they have allowed up to 1,000 fans into their ballparks to watch their teams play. The teams have been playing without any fans in the stadium ever since their season started on April 11th, after a three week delay. Fast forward to today May 8th and a portion of their fans are allowed to enter the stadium. That leaves almost a month of teams practicing and playing without any fans. Even though fans were allowed back in the stadiums, they still have to practice social distancing in the stands. That means that if you see a game the fans would be sitting at least six feet away from each other. In addition to the distancing, fans are barred from bringing in their own food, concessions remain closed and all fans are required to wear masks.
The CPBL currently has five teams and they have started their season ahead of professional baseball in Japan, South Korea and the United States. As of Friday stadiums will leave three seats in between spectators even if they come in as a group and every second row will be left empty to ensure no one can cough on you from behind. Taiwan’s largest baseball stadium can only hold up to 16,000 fans, not anywhere compared to the large venues here in the states. To put it in perspective, Dodger Stadium can currently hold the most fans at 56,000 people. Once MLB returns, there may be a month period before any fans are allowed into the stadium. As I said before, the CPBL and KBO have been litmus tests for MLB creating their plan to return. If that holds up, then for awhile, just so they can figure out logistics, teams may play without any fans.
With that said they could play in their home stadiums, which is a great sign. This is because the larger the stadium, the more fans could fit all while they’re socially distantaced. Fans are going to have to realize that as soon as baseball returns they may not be able to attend and a little while after that, only a certain number of fans may be allowed to attend games. There are few obstacles that fans are going to have to deal with in order to enjoy the game. For one the exclusivity of the games becomes huge. For example, Dodger Stadium holds 3.5 times more people than Taiwan’s largest stadium. If only 1,000 people are allowed inside because that number is low enough to where they can distance themselves, then about 3,000 fans would be able to fit inside that stadium. Not exact math, but each team is going to have to set the specific designated seats before hand of course. This also means that groups are going to be separated while seating. In addition, the CPBL isn’t offering concession food either at this time either. If they were to open up in MLB stadiums, I believe only certain ones would be operating.
As long as we get baseball back that’s all I’m really worried about, but fans are going to have to know that at least in the beginning this separation of fans is going to be put into place here in the states. How would teams decide how they would give tickets away? I could see a raffle for a certain amount of tickets. Even if you get a ticket, people are going to charge crazy money for one. In the end is it really going to be worth it to go through all that hassle to try and watch a game in the stadium this year? Even with all the obstacles people are still going to want to go to the games, it’s just important to note that it’s going to be a completely different experience than we are used to. Regardless, today still is a major milestone in the return to normalcy as at least some fans are being allowed to see their teams play.
The Washed Up Athlete 