Major League Baseball teams will not be able to have fans in their stadiums in the 2020 season thanks to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but some teams such as the San Francisco Giants are offering fans a way to stay connected through unique initiatives.
The Giants informed season ticket holders on Thursday that they will be able to submit an image of themselves, which will be printed onto a weatherproof cardboard cutout and placed as close as possible to their season ticket seats. These cutouts will be displayed at AT&T Park throughout the season.
Giants fans who aren’t season ticket holders will also have the option to pay $199 in order to submit an image and have it placed in the stands at the stadium for the entire season.
Some soccer clubs in Europe, such as Germany’s Borussia Mönchengladbach and Spain’s Villarreal CF have tested a similar initiative to widespread praise after the sport returned to empty stadiums in the continent.
The Giants are the first franchise to announce an initiative such as this in the United States, which they hope will improve the image of the stadium on television broadcasts and make things look not so “empty.” Don’t be surprised if more MLB teams follow suit.
