The unimaginable is about to end up being Major League Baseballs reality. On July 23, the 2020 regular season will open with no fans in the ballpark.
No group had remotely considered this possibility up until coronavirus required commissioner Rob Manfred to suspend the season on March 12. But now that MLB will start a 60-game project amidst a pandemic, teams are looking for innovative methods to involve fans without welcoming them into the ballpark.
Enter the Oakland Athletics.
The As would be leading competitors if there was an award for the most innovative gameplan for baseball without fans. Along with their Bay Area rivals, the San Francisco Giants, the As have revealed plans to place cardboard cutouts featuring pictures of fans around the ballpark.
The cardboard cutout part is not precisely ingenious. Sports leagues around the world have utilized them to replace fans upon their returns. But the As have put a twist that completely fits baseball.
If a cardboard cutout positioned in the “Foul Ball Zone” is struck by a nasty ball, a souvenir baseball will be sent out to the fan.
” Fans can send out in a photo of themselves in As equipment to be added to a cardboard cutout,” the statement reads. “Coliseum Cutouts will be verified and acknowledged by MLB as main “virtual fans,” and will be positioned in seats through the ballpark for the 2020 regular season. If a Foul Ball Zone cutout gets struck with a foul ball, the As will send a ball to the fan on the cutout.”
Thats a fun concept.
No, it does not replace the excitement of actually capturing a nasty ball. It does give fans a reason to tune in and focus on every pitch.
The strategy will include three pricing phases. As access members can send photos for $49. Non-access members can do so for $89. It will cost you $129 if you want to be in the foul ball location. All fans who register will also receive a set of tickets to the As very first house exhibit game at the Coliseum in 2021. Cutout spaces will be restricted.
All earnings from the plan will go to regional charities.
The As likewise prepare to fill in the seats with cutouts including local celebrities and former players. Who knows, perhaps your similarity will be seated next to Rickey Henderson, Dave Stewart or perhaps MC Hammer?
In a baseball season that promises to be unlike anything weve ever seen, this is a perfect example of believing outside package while appreciating the scenarios. It will be more crucial than ever to include and engage fans in new ways, and the As are doing simply that.
More from Yahoo Sports:
Sports leagues around the globe have used them to replace fans upon their returns.” Fans can send in an image of themselves in As gear to be included to a cardboard cutout,” the announcement checks out. “Coliseum Cutouts will be validated and recognized by MLB as main “virtual fans,” and will be positioned in seats through the ballpark for the 2020 routine season. If a Foul Ball Zone cutout gets hit with a foul ball, the As will send a ball to the fan on the cutout.”
All fans who sign up will likewise get a pair of tickets to the As first house exhibit video game at the Coliseum in 2021.
