MLB today announced a series of recommendations to teams for increased safety netting at each ballpark. The league is encouraging teams to install netting stretching at least to the home plate side of each dugout, as well as areas within 70 feet of home plate, and has hired stadium architecture firm Populous to serve as a consultant to aid with the design and installation of the increased netting. MLB also is recommending that each club increase its fan education efforts with regard to the potential hazards of foul balls and broken bats entering seating areas, as well as improving ticketing processes to disclose more clearly which seats will or won’t be behind netting.
“This recommendation attempts to balance the need for an adequate number of seating options with our desire to preserve the interactive pre-game and in-game fan experience that often centers around the dugouts,” said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. The netting recommendations follow a series of fan injuries this season at MLB ballparks from balls and bats, as well as a class action lawsuit filed in California. The measures are not mandatory, but it expected that ultimately every club will opt into the recommendations in some fashion.
With the league recommendations now issued, a series of team-related announcements is due to follow, and several were already made this afternoon, including the Dodgers, Mariners and Phillies. The Red Sox similarly said they are “evaluating different design options” for increased netting at Fenway Park, and are currently meeting with ticket holders most affected by the coming changes.
