Tomorrows game in Baltimore will be played with no public access.
It will be the first of its kind and I find it odd to think what that will be like for the players.
With a little levity for a serious situation, I will say that it is a White Sox game. A White Sox home game (I’m a fan) early in the season is not much different than this will be. Levity! Don’t hate me!
Wow, how crazy is that. ISTM that will just give people another reason to riot, but hopefully not. It almost makes me want to subscribe to MLBTV to watch the game.
Reds at Marlins, August 23, 2011. Attendance 347 people.
Of course, there was a hurricane headed for Miamiat the time.
Even better, it’s the free game of the day. Register for free and you should get the game.
I remember watching the CSKA Moscow–Bayern Champions League group stage match in the fall which was played in Moscow in front of zero fans due to a UEFA stadium ban for bad fan behavior in previous matches. They marched out in formation just like normal, stood around for the anthems facing a sea of empty seats, and then proceeded to play 90 minutes of soccer where all you could hear was crystal clear shouts in Russian and German echoing around the pitch. I think Bayern rented out the top floor of a nearby high rise for their traveling fans to watch the match through the windows with binoculars.
It was incredibly creepy and weird. I will be fascinated to see this tomorrow, as I suspect it will be similarly creepy and weird. Are they going announce batters and play at-bat music?
Is there any specific reason the games aren’t being played in Washington or Philadelphia (both are on the road this week)? Lot better than having to fly to Florida, and much easier for fans to attend.
Empty stadium games are not new to soccer often ordered as punishment for unruly fan behavior. Liga MX played games to empty arenas a few years ago due to a pig flu outbreak in Mwxico.
Not sure what the point is tomorrow when the game could have been easily moved to Philadelphia, Washington or a minor league stadium instead MLB has created an embarrassing though certainly surreal and intriguing spectacle.
[QUOTE=The Article]
“The amenities were terrible. There were like three things on the menu: there was a hot dog that tasted like it was made with jet fuel in a Moscow whorehouse, and then there was coffee, and then there was Coke.”
[/QUOTE]
The next time I eat a hot dog, I will use the jet fuel in a Moscow whorehouse line. I love it.
They are playing Tampa this weekend. I guess the idea is that at least one team’s fans would have a chance to see a ball game instead of moving down the road where it’s not convenient for any fans.
It will also prevent any chance of a rainout. They’ve already got 2 games to make up
One time I had tickets to a White Sox game and they were rained out the night before, so at the last minute a 7:00 night game became a 4:00 double-header. I was, ah, between jobs at the time, so I got out there for the 4:00 first pitch.
I tried to count the people in the stands and lost count, but there were between 100 and 200 people in attendance. The only sound you could hear was coming from the dugouts, where the players were cheering for each other, like at a high school game. Very weird.
It will be like that today, except for the whole game.
I set my DVR to record this, although I’ll undoubtedly know who won by the time I get home. It should surreal.
Here is some discussion as to why Nationals Park was not chosen.
Interesting to note that this game is the mlb.com free game of the day
For the first time ever stadium workers will be instructed to walk the stands and pick up foul balls.
It’s streaming now. Definitely weird. You hear the players clapping from the dugout and that’s about it. No announcements.
The broadcasters just mentioned that the foul balls will be left in the stands, and early fans at the next home game can grab them. Not sure I believe that.
I’m watching this live at home on my TV (thanks PS3 app and quitting my job last week!) with only the park audio on and this is absolutely amazing. I know what I’m going to be watching the next couple of hours while I keep packing.