(Editor’s Note: On Thursday, the Dodgers sent out emails to their current Season Ticket Holders detailing how they plan to honor those with season tickets. The problem, of course, is that COVID-19 protocols under the ‘Red Tier’ – which went into effect this past Monday in LA County – mandates that there can be no more than 11,200 fans (20% of capacity) at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers have more than 40,000 Season Ticket Holders.
* * *
‘Open a can of worms’ (idiom): To create a complicated situation in which doing something to correct a problem leads to many more problems. (Merriam-Webster)
Everyone is familiar with the heartbreak of living under countless shelter-in-place ordinances to protect themselves and others since COVID-19 protocols were initiated in March 2020. The baseball world was rocked but not shocked when attendance in-stadium was canceled last year, finally adopting a shortened 60-game season … but hey, at least there was a season.
Weather permitting, the Dodgers will open their 2021 season on April 1, 2021, against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver. Three-time National League Cy Young Award winner – and World Series Champion – Clayton Kershaw will make his franchise-record-setting ninth Opening Day start to lead the charge into what is affectionately being called ‘The Repeat Season.’
More importantly, the Dodgers Home Opener is scheduled for April 9th against the Washington Nationals and would be the first game with fans in the stands at their beloved Chavez Ravine since 2019.
Fans have been in limbo as to how creative the Dodgers organization would get to handle seating restrictions and constant changes from mandates by the State, with the 2021 season now less than two weeks away.
The wait ended on Thursday morning when the Dodgers released information to Season Ticket Holders (via email) about the upcoming season and how they plan to deal with 11,200 seats for 40,000 Season Ticket Holders; not to mention game-day ticket sales. To say that it is a lot to juggle, along with fans’ expectations, would be an understatement. And while we all realize that you can’t please all of the people all of the time, there were a lot of unhappy Dodgers Season Ticket Holders when they opened this huge can of worms. The email began:
“Because of the protocols that have been implemented in response to the pandemic, including reduced stadium capacity, social distancing, and pod-style seating requirements, we have made changes to your plan through at least June 2, 2021. For now, the games in your original Membership plan that are scheduled to be played after June 11 will remain unchanged.”
“Subject to ticket availability and applicable state and local regulations, Season Ticket Members will be offered the opportunity to purchase a 14-Game Plan in an alternate seating location with access to presales for Opening Day tickets and to additional games that are not included in their plans.”
In addition to the ability to purchase one of two 14-Game Plans when their scheduled time slot arrives, Season Ticket Holders will be subject to pod-style seating for those games. That seating will occur in groups that will be socially distant throughout the stadium. The requirements will be a minimum of two seats to a maximum of six seats in each selected pod. And fans will be prohibited from reselling portions of the pods that they purchase.
With the limited stadium seating due to state requirements, it will still be a roll of the dice. Even if Season Ticket Holders holders purchase the 14-Game Plan requirement to be eligible to buy an Opening Day ticket, access to a ticket is not guaranteed.
You guessed it – standard legal jargon applies as well, especially with the ever-changing pandemic conditions.
- Packages will be limited and are only available while supplies last.
- Subject to a change in conditions, including a change in tiers or capacity, the Dodgers reserve all rights to modify all ticket plans, including seating locations, at any time during the 2021 season.
Parking will not be available for purchase at the stadium for these games. Instead, it must be purchased in advance.
There is a silver lining, of course. If conditions continue to improve during the season, additional seating may open up. And for those Season Ticket Holders that choose not to purchase the 14-Game Plan, their modified plan will still be honored for all games after June 11th, barring further changes.
“Your health and safety are of paramount importance to us, and the Dodgers will continue to work with state and local officials and Major League Baseball to finalize protocols to protect players, fans, and staff. We plan to announce these updated health and safety protocols in the coming days.”
This is obviously not how fans who are used to packing Dodger Stadium to capacity wanted it to play out. However, it is a step in the right direction to get some fans back in the stands.
We All Bleed Blue!