AA success noticed by other leagues

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This article was published 28/07/2020 (2136 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The excitement surrounding Major League Baseball’s opening day last week has quickly vanished.

All it took was four days for a team, the Miami Marlins, to suffer a COVID-19 outbreak and put the remainder of the season in question. It was announced Tuesday afternoon the Marlins have 19 people, players and coaches, who have tested positive for the virus, forcing the MLB to put Miami’s season on pause.

Unlike the NBA and NHL, MLB didn’t go for the bubble approach as teams have been travelling around the country to play games in empty ballparks. The strategy was criticized by many from the start and Miami’s situation has only added fuel to the fire.

But, on the flip side of the coin, there’s the American Association, which may be proving that pro sports can work outside the confines of a bubble.

The AA is nearly a month into its shortened 60-game season and the Winnipeg Goldeyes and the other five teams competing this summer have yet to have a major scare.

The league cut the teams in half and is running with a six-team loop that’s based out of four hub cities: Franklin, Wis. (Milwaukee Milkmen), Sioux Falls, S.D. (Sioux Falls Canaries), Fargo, N.D. (Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks) and Rosemont, Ill. (Chicago Dogs). Fans are allowed at the games but ballparks can only operate at half capacity while ensuring physical distancing.

The Goldeyes aren’t hitting dingers at Shaw Park these days as their home base for the 2020 campaign is Fargo’s Newman Outdoor Field.

“Well, I think we’re proving them wrong so far,” said AA commissioner Joshua Schaub on those who doubt pro sports leagues can survive without a bubble. Schaub spoke to the Free Press over the phone on Tuesday.

“And then we keep our fingers crossed because obviously we could have the same situation as Major League Baseball,” Schaub said. “The reality is, we’re probably gonna have to live with this virus for a long time and even though you’re in a bubble, it’s clearly not proven to be totally foolproof. We’re doing everything we can to provide safety for our players. The reality is, I just went to a grocery store and I’m not sure that’s not more dangerous than what our players are doing on a day-to-day basis in a lot of respects.

“Now obviously we have some different hiccups because we travel, but we’ve done everything we could regarding that travel to also make it safe and then we’re providing testing which is much more than what many essential workers are getting out there and yet they’re going out on the job every day and performing their duties.”

The AA has drastically cut back on travel as teams like the Goldeyes play 42 of their games in their hub with the other 18 coming on the road. While the league has reduced the risk, it doesn’t mean things have been perfect as there were players in training camp as well as a couple during the regular season that have contracted the virus. Players are generally tested once a week. “I think things are going as well as they possibly could at this point,” said Schaub.

“We always knew we would have COVID-positive cases and we have, but we’ve managed them. I think we’ve managed them exactly how our protocols dictated and as we anticipated. I think the players have done a fantastic job at following protocol.”

Independent baseball has never been known for sell-out crowds, but even considering that, people aren’t exactly coming out of the woodwork to catch games this summer.

The average attendance between the six clubs is 843 fans. When the Goldeyes are the home team at Newman Outdoor Field, they’re averaging a league-worst 303 fans.

The AA might not grab headlines, but other leagues, and sports, have taken notice. Baseball, soccer and hockey leagues have reached out to the AA for some advice during these trying times.

“I’ve had quite a few commissioners give me a call,” Schaub said.

“You know, commissioners throughout the country do talk often, but many are calling me asking about protocols, asking about our learning experiences. I’ve even had some brief conversations with Major League Baseball regarding some of the things we went through ahead of them starting their season. They’re fairly inquisitive about our fan experience because ultimately I think Major League Baseball wants to bring fans back.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31