# A baseball game with no crowd. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 28, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749 "2015-04-28T21:39:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![liontamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b487fb/32.png) [@liontamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liontamer)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/1 "2015-04-28T21:39:49Z")
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. > **[Orioles Announce Schedule Changes Due to Protests in Baltimore](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2446065-orioles-vs-white-sox-postponed-for-2nd-straight-night-due-to-baltimore-protests)** > > With riots continuing on the streets of Baltimore, the Orioles' scheduled home game against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday has been postponed... ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/2 "2015-04-28T21:51:47Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/3 "2015-04-28T21:54:54Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/4 "2015-04-28T22:13:02Z")
Reds at Marlins, August 23, 2011. Attendance 347 people. Of course, there was a [hurricane headed for Miami](http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/347-fans-Hurricane-Irene-wipes-out-Marlins-atte?urn=mlb-wp17025)at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/5 "2015-04-29T00:08:43Z")
[250 people show up at a game in Oakland in the 70s](https://sports.vice.com/en_us/article/remembering-the-worst-attended-mlb-game-of-all-time) ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/6 "2015-04-29T01:57:39Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > 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. Even better, it’s the free game of the day. Register for free and you should get the game. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/7 "2015-04-29T02:50:32Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/8 "2015-04-29T03:16:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/9 "2015-04-29T03:46:20Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > 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? 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. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/10 "2015-04-29T03:54:35Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > [250 people show up at a game in Oakland in the 70s](https://sports.vice.com/en_us/article/remembering-the-worst-attended-mlb-game-of-all-time) [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. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/11 "2015-04-29T04:00:07Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/12 "2015-04-29T13:20:15Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > 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 ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/13 "2015-04-29T14:19:42Z")
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_. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_the_turtle/32/2926_2.png) [@Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_the_Turtle)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/14 "2015-04-29T14:45:03Z")
I set my DVR to record this, although I’ll undoubtedly know who won by the time I get home. It should surreal. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/15 "2015-04-29T15:32:57Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > 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. Here is some [discussion](http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/orioles-to-host-home-game-against-the-white-sox-in-an-empty-stadium/2015/04/28/b534ea48-ede6-11e4-8abc-d6aa3bad79dd_story.html) as to why Nationals Park was not chosen. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/16 "2015-04-29T15:38:57Z")
Interesting to note that this game is the [mlb.com](http://mlb.com) free game of the day ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/17 "2015-04-29T15:45:16Z")
For the first time ever stadium workers will be instructed to walk the stands and pick up foul balls. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/18 "2015-04-29T18:12:10Z")
It’s streaming now. Definitely weird. You hear the players clapping from the dugout and that’s about it. No announcements. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/19 "2015-04-29T18:16:15Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > For the first time ever stadium workers will be instructed to walk the stands and pick up foul balls. 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. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749/20 "2015-04-29T18:19:17Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baseball-game-with-no-crowd/718749.md?page=2)