TACOMA, Wash. — There are no base markers, no pitcher’s mound, and no home plate at Cheney Stadium this summer. COVID-19 has caused the cancellation of all Minor League Baseball games in Tacoma and around the country.
It's the first time the Minor League affiliated Pacific Coast League, which the Rainiers are part of, has been forced to cancel games in 118 years
“Two World Wars, the Great Depression, the last pandemic, baseball was still played in the Pacific Coast League and this will be the first year it isn’t,” said team president Aaron Artman. “And that hits extra hard I would say.”
261 Minor League teams around the country, five of them here in Washington State including the Triple A Rainiers, and Single A Yakima Bears, Tri-City Dust Devils, Everett Aquasox, and Spokane Indians have been forced to call off games after the announcement of a league wide cancelation by Minor League Baseball on Tuesday.
About 300 part time game day employees won't have jobs at Cheney stadium this summer. For the Rainiers organization it means the loss of ticket sales, which are 99% of the team's revenue.
“We don’t discuss the dollar amount but it’s a significant swing in the wrong direction,” said Artman.
Fans shopping at the Tacoma Rainiers Team Store at Cheney Stadium, which is open despite the cancellation, say they expected this.
“You know it sucks but the way things are going I don’t blame them,” said Tracy Nix. “It’d be nice to show up for games but it is what it is. I understand they’re trying to protect people and that’s probably the most important thing.”
Another fan, who only identified himself as Scott said cancellation was the safest move. “Even if they allowed fans, I think most people, most responsible people, probably wouldn’t come. I don’t think I would have come.”
For players, some on the so-called Taxi Squad will continue to practice in the event the Major League Mariners play a limited season and need call up players. Some are moving to other teams within Mariner’s the farm system. Some have been cut and may have to look elsewhere for positions next season.
“A lot of players got released and will be free agents for the most part to be picked up when the game returns,” said Artman.
Artman said 90% of season ticket holders have accepted the team’s offer to retain their tickets and have them rolled over to the 2021 season.
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