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NEWS!
PLAY BALL!
Globe Life Field will be the site of playoff baseball and the World Series
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Will fans be allowed to attend the games at the stadiums n a move that serves as a reminder of just how in baseball’s version of “the bubble” concept that had been significant a player The American Dream City has implemented previously in professional basketball and become on the national stage, Major League Baseball hockey to ensure safe playing environments in the era of announced that the 2020 World Series will be played this coronavirus? month at Arlington’s Globe Life Field. In mid September, after Major League Baseball And that’s just part of the great news for the city. Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the playoff and The schedule for the 2020 postseason, which opened World Series sites, he expressed his desire for the answer with the American League’s inaugural Wild Card Series to be yes. on Sept. 29 and the National League’s first Wild Card “I’m hopeful that for the World Series and the [League Series openers on Sept. 30, also puts NL division and Championship Series] we will have limited fan capacity,” championship series match-ups at the game’s newest Manfred said at a virtual address to an audience at ballpark in the days leading to the World Series. Globe Life Hofstra University’s Frank G. Zarb School of Business. Field is one of four ballparks that will be used in the latter “I think it’s important for us to start back down the road. rounds of the playoffs, along with Houston’s Minute Maid Obviously, it’ll be limited numbers, socially distanced, Park, San Diego’s Petco Park and Dodger Stadium. protection provided for the fans in terms of temperature In the first neutral site Fall Classic in modern history, checks and the like. Kind of the pods like you saw in Game One of the 2020 World Series is set for Tuesday, Oct. some of the NFL games. We’ll 20 at the new home of the probably use that same Texas Rangers. A potential Game Seven of the World “WHOEVER COMES through theory.” Manfred said last month Series is scheduled for our doors, whichever clubs that a final determination Wednesday, Oct. 28. are fortunate enough to about in-stadium attendance Major League Baseball’s announcement was welcome make it to the championship, will be made before major league teams head to their – and not totally unexpected – we’re thrilled to host them respective neutral playoff news to at least one big fan of sites. Any decision would here in Arlington and Globe baseball and his home town. be tied to state and local “Before COVID hit, the Life Field.” ordinances. Late September owners had a meeting right Texas state regulations would here to see this new Globe allow Globe Life Field and Minute Maid Park to be filled Life Field,” says Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams. “To up to 50 percent capacity. Capacity for a baseball game at hear firsthand from those owners there how impressed the Arlington venue is 40,300. they were with this ballpark, that really laid a lot of In devising the postseason plan, Major League Baseball groundwork because these teams that are in the playoffs and the Major League Baseball Players Association and World Series are going to be coming to the premier incorporated several key safety measures, including: Major League Baseball ballpark in America.” – Players on contending teams will have to quarantine at After the question of where the playoff and the World their respective hotels in the final seven days of the regular Series games would be played this year was answered, season. a second important query followed almost immediately:
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ARLINGTON TODAY • October 2020 • arlingtontoday.com
