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A rendering shows how extended netting at Nationals Park will affect seats near the dugouts.
Photo by: WASHINGTON NATIONALS |
Major League Baseball’s newly expanded netting provisions have not produced an overwhelming amount of ticket relocation requests thus far, but the topic promises to remain on the front burner as the 2016 season approaches.
Numerous teams questioned said they have moved a small number of season-ticket holder accounts, typically fewer than 10 a club, as a result of new MLB recommendations issued in December that encouraged clubs to expand field-level safety netting behind at least
the near edges of each dugout and other areas within 70 feet of home plate. But fan questions are continuing to pour in to team offices about the potential effects on the in-stadium experience. Many clubs are in the final stages of installation and testing for their expanded netting and are targeting completion for later this month.
“This has been a very split issue among our customers. Definitely a lot of mixed opinion,” said Sam Kennedy, Boston Red Sox president. The club, which last June saw life-threatening injuries to a fan at Fenway Park from a broken bat, has moved four season-ticket holder accounts so far after the release of the new netting guidelines. “We recognize there may be more of this as we get closer to Opening Day. But the big thing is that we’re going to work hard to maintain the connection between the fans and players, even with the nets.”
Top fan concerns with the expanded netting cited by teams include fears of no longer being able to get foul balls or balls tossed into the stands between innings by players and coaches, and reduced opportunities for autographs. As a result, team executives said they are already encouraging players to make additional efforts to toss balls over the new nets and interact with fans in the affected areas when appropriate.
“This is certainly a hot topic,” said Dave St. Peter, president of the Minnesota Twins, who have relocated six season-ticket holder accounts. The Twins are among a handful of clubs that have expanded netting to the far ends of their dugouts at Target Field. “Nobody disagrees with the safety discussion that’s at the core of all of this. But there is concern about a potential disruption to game experience and the interaction with the players, and we’re working through that right now.”
Several fans were injured last year at MLB ballparks by balls and bats. Those incidents helped prompt an extensive league study on the netting issue, the issuance of the new recommendations in December, and the retention of stadium architecture firm Populous as a consultant to aid with the design and installation of the increased netting.
Netting sizes vary around the league, and a key part of the challenge for MLB has been developing some type of standardized solution to field dimensions and facility sizes that are unique in each market. But for clubs that have opted to extend nets to the far ends of their dugouts, a height of 6 to 8 feet from the top of the dugout has been common.
Many MLB clubs increased the opportunities for season-ticket holders to come to the ballpark during the offseason and view their seats with the expanded netting at least partially installed.
The installation and design of the expanded netting itself has also prompted some solutions not originally contemplated. The Washington Nationals will use an angled design at Nationals Park in which its expanded netting slants downward over each dugout. The Kansas City Royals have a similar design for Kauffman Stadium. The Texas Rangers are developing a protocol for Globe Life Park in which some of the increased netting will be lowered during batting practice, when the desire for fan access to balls and autograph opportunities is heightened, and raised for games.
“We think we have a solution that we’re going to try that will balance all of the interests,” said Rob Matwick, Rangers executive vice president of business operations.
Club executives said the detail and data around the netting recommendations provided by the league aided them in their dialogue with season-ticket holders.
“They really did their homework on this. There was a lot of vetting and a high degree of sophistication around the recommendations,” said Rick Schlesinger, Milwaukee Brewers chief operating officer. “That’s helped a lot, and fans generally understand we’re all trying to balance their safety and preserving the essence of what it means to attend a baseball game.”
Several clubs have also made a particular point of seeking out a thinner and lighter “knotless” netting that still meets the new league recommendations but is less obstructive to views than more traditional nets.
“There is some better material out there now, and that’s really helped a lot through this whole process,” said Michael Stiles, Philadelphia Phillies chief operating officer.
