MLB "hasn’t set a blanket policy for fan attendance" throughout its shortened season, meaning crowd sizes "could hinge on local politics and vary from park to park," according to Dave Matter of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. The season "will start with no fans in the stands, but eventually fan attendance will be at the mercy of state and local regulations on social distancing." What is "considered safe and legal in Texas might not be allowed in California." A smattering of fans may not "give home teams a decided advantage" on the field, but the "boost in ticket revenue will make a difference" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/28). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Cohen & Beaton noted 21 of baseball’s 27 U.S. markets have seen coronavirus "case rates accelerate recently." For example, having fans in the stands at Astros home games "would mean holding mass gatherings in a Texas county where new cases increased by 93%" this past week. Meanwhile, outbreaks in "multiple sports over the past week showed the complications of sports teams playing at home when there is significant community transmission in their cities" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/27). On Long Island, David Lennon wrote, "It’s going to be almost impossible to keep the players protected as teams travel around, so hosting fans just doesn’t seem realistic" (NEWSDAY, 6/28).
THE LOCAL ANGLE: Dodgers President & CEO Stan Kasten indicated that he "doesn’t expect fans will be allowed at Dodger Stadium in the near future." Kasten: "It is not on the table anytime soon. Obviously, when it is safe for fans to show up, we’d love for that to happen, even if it’s a small number to begin. But I think we’re going away from even thinking about that" (L.A. TIMES, 6/28). Indians President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti indicated that "it’s up to Ohio’s health officials" whether fans will be allowed at Progressive Field at some point this season. Antonetti said, "They’re going to have to give us some guidance on what they might be comfortable with. Then it would be up to us to adapt a plan in which we could do that in a safe way" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 6/26).
