UPDATE (March 12; 12:25 p.m. PT): Major League Baseball cancelled all 2020 Spring Training games, indefinitely postponed World Baseball Classic qualifier games, and delayed Opening Day for at least two weeks.
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the California Department of Public Health officially suggested public gatherings of 250 or more people be cancelled across the state at least through March. California Governor Gavin Newsom additionally recommended the cancellation of all events due to attract at least 250 people.
The California Department of Public Health found gatherings such as concerts, conferences and sporting events (amateur, collegiate and professional) be postponed or cancelled. Furthermore, it suggested gatherings in venues that do not allow social distancing of at least six feet also not be held.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are scheduled to host Opening Day of the 2020 season at Dodger Stadium on March 26. The edict from the state now has the season opener in danger.
The Dodgers conceivably could move forward with their matchup against the San Francisco Giants by playing without any fans in attendance. It’s an approach the NBA was thought to be leaning toward prior to Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert testing positive for coronavirus.
Shortly after Gobert’s test results, the league suspended its season indefinitely. The NCAA had already said attendance to men’s and women’s March Madness basketball tournaments was going to be limited to select family members and essential team personnel.
As of late Wednesday evening, every indication from MLB was they intended to carry forward with scheduled Spring Training games and the start of the regular season. However, that prospect has grown exponentially more difficult.
Prior to the California Department of Public Health issuing their mandate, San Francisco Mayor London Breed banned all large gatherings (described as at least 1,000 people), including for Golden State Warriors games, for at least the next two weeks in effort to curb coronavirus spreading.
The Giants subsequently announced they will not play a March 24 exhibition game at Oracle Park against the Oakland Athletics. Before NBA suspended its season, the Warriors were slated to play Thursday without fans in attendance.
State of Washington Governor Jay Inslee restricted gatherings of more than 250 people in three counties, including where the Seattle Mariners play their home games. The Mariners are consulting with MLB to develop plans for games that were scheduled at T-Mobile Park.
Other MLB clubs were also said to already be exploring alternative options in the event they are unable to play home games at their designated stadium.
Earlier this week, MLB, MLS, NBA and NHL issued a joint statement that outlined clubhouse and locker room access being limited to players and essential staff members.
“After consultation with infectious disease and public health experts, and given the issues that can be associated with close contact in pre- and post-game settings, all team locker rooms and clubhouses will be open only to players and essential employees of teams and team facilities until further notice,” it read.
“Media access will be maintained in designated locations outside of the locker room and clubhouse setting. These temporary changes will be effective beginning with [Tuesday’s] games and practices. We will continue to closely monitor this situation and take any further steps necessary to maintain a safe and welcoming environment.”
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Wednesday he was not yet comfortable addressing the possibility of playing in an empty stadium.
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