All options are on the table as Major League Baseball considers its next steps as the coronavirus spreads across the US. MLB may start the 2020 season with games taking place at spring training sites in Arizona or Florida. These games would take place without any fans in attendance, and players would be quarantined.
The logistics of such a move would need to be considered in detail. Holding games in Arizona training sites would make more sense, since the properties are physically closer to one another. However, it still remains to decide how to house 30 MLB teams in one area. Governments on all levels would need to agree to their cooperation and to provide the necessary resources.
March 26th was originally scheduled to be the official Opening Day of this year’s season. However, MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred was forced to issue a statement on the day, declaring an “#OpeningDayAtHome.”
“We can do this together by following the direction of our public health experts and government officials to collectively address this global pandemic,” said Manfred. “Baseball will return, just as soon as it’s safe to do so.”
MLB hasn’t yet set a new date for a new Opening Day. It was hoping for a mid-May kick-off, but this doesn’t seem likely, with recommendations against gatherings of more than 50 people in place until at least May, and most probably beyond.
Another option being discussed is extending baseball season until Thanksgiving, with teams playing multiple doubleheaders.
According to an article that appeared in The Atlantic this weekend, the chances of teams playing their games at home parks over the summer were “increasingly remote”; thus the League needs to find alternatives.
The MLB is already looking for ways to overcome one of its biggest hurdles – lost revenue from concessions, ticket sales and other sources. MLB players will receive prorated salaries based on the the number games played.
