The retractable-roof ballpark seats 40,300 in total, so the 11,500 tickets represent 28.5% of capacityGETTY IMAGES
MLB yesterday revealed that it "would sell tickets" to the NLCS and the World Series at the Rangers' Globe Life Field, making "about 11,500 tickets available per game, with 10,550 fans spread out through the stands and another 950 in suites," according to Tyler Kepner of the N.Y. TIMES. Tickets "will go on sale on Tuesday through the league’s website." The retractable-roof ballpark seats 40,300 in total, so the 11,500 tickets represent 28.5% of capacity. The Rangers "coordinated a plan" with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's office and the city of Arlington, and MLB "eagerly approved it." The access rules "will be strict in Arlington, with fans allowed to buy only one group of four adjoining seats per game" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/1).
ANALYZING HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE: THE RINGER's Ben Lindbergh asked of the playoffs, "Will home-field advantage still be in effect without fans?" Proposed contributing causes to home-field advantage in baseball include the "psychological effect on players of encouragement or opposition from fans; the influence of fans on umpires’ ball and strike calls; home players’ greater familiarity with their own parks; teams’ tendencies to tailor their rosters to the layouts of their home parks; the impact of travel and living conditions; and the tactical advantage of batting second." Lindbergh writes for the pandemic-shortened season, "Not only was home-field advantage still in effect, but it was bigger than usual." Historically, MLB home teams have won 54% of their games. This year, home teams went 500-398, a .557 winning percentage, the highest in a season since '10 (THERINGER.com, 9/30).
