Texas Rangers expect to host MLB postseason. And they could allow fans
It would take a global pandemic for the Texas Rangers to host the 2020 World Series, and considering how nothing makes sense this year, it only makes sense that they will host the Fall Classic.
According to sources, the Rangers and Arlington are making plans to host MLB postseason games, including the World Series. Because of Texas’ policy to permit fans at sporting events, the Rangers could not only host the playoffs but open the doors and sell tickets.
“That’s a good question. We hope so,” Rangers executive vice president of sports and entertainment Sean Decker said Wednesday. “We’re not having fans because Major League Baseball won’t allow us.”
There is the chance the first MLB games at the new Globe Life Field that a fan could watch in person will be a postseason game not involving the Texas Rangers.
CNBC is reporting that Globe Life Field will also serve as the host site for the National League Championship Series. Other sites for the postseason include stadiums in Southern California and Houston.
Decker was attending the announcement at Globe Life Field of the relocation of the National Finals Rodeo from its scheduled dates in December to Arlington.
Rodeo’s Super Bowl is leaving Las Vegas for this year, and coming to our backyard, because Texas’ COVID-19 policy will permit fans to attend the annual competitions, as well as its sprawling exhibitions.
What Arlington is doing with the National Rodeo Finals it would do for MLB’s postseason.
“The Texas Rangers want that to happen here as much as anybody. We want the events to be here,” Decker said. “We want as much of the postseason as Major League Baseball will let us have and we’ll do everything possible to be a great host.
“For us, we’re relying on the commissioner’s office. They will decide, along with the Players Association. We made it known we want to host. We’ve worked with the city of Arlington to make sure we could host.”
When MLB started back, it was under the condition no fans would be permitted at any park. The effect of no fans in the stadium on the televised product is more detrimental than on NBA or NHL games.
The novelty of the cardboard cutouts in seats has worn off, and some of these MLB games on TV can be depressing.
The condensed MLB regular season has less than 20 games remaining, and Decker said MLB has not informed any club what the postseason plan is.
“We are three weeks away [from the end of the regular season], so it’s gotta be soon,” Decker said.
Since MLB started back, it has been forced to cancel games when teams report positive COVID-19 test cases. It was one of the fears when MLB announced its plan to play in home stadiums that there would be positive cases that would force cancellations.
The NBA and NHL have not lost a single game in their respective bubble sites — Edmonton and Toronto for hockey and Orlando for basketball — for any reason related to coronavirus. Extremely strict protocols were put in place, including fans not being allowed to attend any games.
With the NBA’s postseason now in the conference semifinals, players have been allowed to bring in a small number of their family to be with them in Orlando, and to attend the games.
The last thing MLB wants is to cancel a postseason game due to COVID.
Moving the playoffs to one central location gives MLB the best chance to play on without the threat of canceling a game, or losing a player to a positive test case.
The question is does MLB feel secure enough to let a limited number of fans attend its postseason games? It appears California does not, but Texas does.
The only events where outsiders have been allowed into Globe Life Field have been for high school graduation ceremonies and stadium tours.
The Rangers, and Arlington, want to show off their new toy, even for a less-than-capacity crowd.
They have everything in place to host October baseball, including the little caveat of having government approval to allow fans.
This story was originally published September 9, 2020 at 3:47 PM.
