Major League Baseball’s challenge with safety netting is similar to the struggle inherent with nearly every other initiative undertaken at its ballparks: how to apply a standardized solution to the field dimensions unique to each market.
MLB owners this week at quarterly meetings in Dallas will hear an extensive presentation led by Chief Legal Officer Dan Halem on potential applications for ballpark netting. Commissioner Rob Manfred, speaking at last week’s general managers’ meetings, said he expects a “full debate” on the topic, but differences among the ballparks complicate the subject.
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Baseball has seen several serious fan injuries from batted balls and broken bats this year.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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“I think if you go out and look at the ballparks, it becomes evident that a central, uniform net to the edges of the dugouts is not workable given the variations in the design of the stadiums,” Manfred said. “It’s going to have to be a little more complicated than that.”
The complications are similar to those that greatly colored the development of MLB’s expanded instant replay system, as well as a comprehensive, multiyear league effort to boost wireless connectivity at each facility. MLB is the only major U.S. league that includes some nonstandardized playing surface dimensions, and they vary significantly between century-old ballparks such as Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, and newer facilities such as Marlins Park, now in its fourth year.
But unlike those voluntary league projects, MLB is facing external pressure on the netting issue on several fronts. Several serious fan injuries from batted balls and broken bats occurred this past season, including life-threatening injuries to a Massachusetts fan in June in Fenway Park. An Oakland A’s season-ticket holder in July initiated a class-action action lawsuit in California seeking netting at MLB ballparks.
There are also economic considerations. MLB sells more tickets than any other American professional league, and compromising or obstructing the experience for many of the most coveted and highest-priced seats could have major ramifications for clubs.
“The safety of our fans, of course, comes first, but we also don’t want to ruin the fan experience,” said Oakland A’s owner Lew Wolff. “I’m hopeful there is a balance in there somewhere.”
It is not yet certain whether Halem’s presentation, the result of several months of internal league study, will produce an owner vote this week. One potential scenario, according to league sources, is the creation of a menu of options that teams would then be able to opt into and implement.
MLB owners this week also will hear an address from Turner Broadcasting President David Levy. The presentation is similar to one ESPN President John Skipper made at MLB’s May meetings in New York. Turner last month posted its most viewed postseason since acquiring MLB playoff rights in 2007.
