As reported by Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, Major League Baseball is “inclined to allow local and municipal governments to take precedence” with regards to fans being allowed in MLB stadiums this season.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought MLB operations to a halt in March. Since then, multiple options for how to proceed with a shortened 2020 season have been discussed.
As the league’s owners and the MLB Players’ Association hash out safety measures and, more importantly, the financial details of this unprecedented agreement, states across the country have begun re-opening their economies.
The expected revenue loss due to a lack of fans in attendance has been a contentious talking point throughout negotiations. If fans were to be allowed in, even on a limited basis, the fiscal outlook of a truncated season would be incrementally rosier.
Per The Dallas Morning News, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that “stadiums, whether it be where the [Dallas] Mavericks play or the Texas Rangers play or the Dallas Cowboys play, will be able to seat [at] 50 percent capacity”.
As the health risk posed by the coronavirus subsides, more and more cities will adopt these measures. Caution will be key, but this is encouraging news for the prospects of a 2020 season.
We’ll keep you posted with more information as it becomes available.
