Are we about to see the cutting of the cardboard cutouts at Atlanta Braves games? Let’s hope so.
We haven’t heard from the state of Georgia yet about any rules that would govern Atlanta Braves games, but various states are starting to make their own declarations about how to handle fans at sporting events.
Today we heard from Ohio with a set of specific guidelines:
Ohio is the latest state to allow fans in (in MLB that applies to the Reds and Cleveland's team). The governor announced that it'll be 30% capacity for outdoor games and seating pods for no more than six people (recommended that they're from same household). Masks required.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) February 25, 2021
That’s helpful… and perhaps it might be a good model to use for much of major league baseball.
Other states are also chiming in:
Massachusetts just announced they’ll be allowing 12% capacity at Fenway. I would imagine Nats Park isn’t far behind.
— Jonathan Mailloux (@JonMailloux) February 25, 2021
The State of Georgia has yet to announce anything officially, though even last Fall, the University of Georgia made their own rules about getting fans into their home football games:
"AUGUST 19 (from our old friend Brandon Sudge): The University of Georgia on Wednesday announced a plan to allow 20% to 25% of Sanford Stadium’s 92,746 capacity this season — or somewhere between 18,000 and 23,000 fans per game. The tickets will be in blocks of four seats in order to maintain social distancing and safety protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic."
This was a similar plan as Ohio has adopted. Hopefully, the Braves can do likewise.
Of note, the team is already planning on various promotional giveaways (like the “MVFree Bobblehead” day on May 23rd to the first 15,000 fans… which certainly implies that they are aiming for real people to occupy real seats.
Certainly, MLB teams are going to be eager to do what they can to allow fans back into their venues… and in reality, many games (especially during the work week) had been viewed at substantially less than full capacity anyway.
Watch out for the Atlanta Braves vultures
The bigger concern — apart from social distancing and COVID-19 considerations — may be cost.
The ticket prices are not going to be that much different from their pre-pandemic levels, but the average fan also may not be able to find many tickets at those prices.
Note this about Spring Training game tickets from Dave O’Brien:
At https://t.co/qRc9owIYfn, a secondary-market ticket site, the avg. price for #Braves spring-training tix ($210.70) is 2nd-highest in MLB behind Red Sox ($262.40), and Braves' avg "get-in" price ($109) is highest in Grapefruit or Cactus league. Prices soaring cuz limited seats
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) February 26, 2021
Supply, meet demand. There’s the rub: you may very well be able to afford face-value tickets, but you may also not be able to find such a thing since the ticket brokers are the locusts of the business.
So pick your battles carefully here if you want to attend a Braves game this season: we all hope we can get back to Truist Park eventually… but to do so “at all costs” may be an expensive proposition. Plan ahead.