Nippon Professional Baseball Commissioner Atsushi Saito said Monday that NPB would like to open games to spectators from July 10, the day when all professional sports events can do so under the policy laid out by the government.
"Unless there are extreme circumstances, we would like to allow spectators [in stadiums] from July 10," Saito said at a news conference held online after the 10th meeting of "the liaison conference on measures against novel coronavirus" between NPB and soccer's J.League.
In professional baseball, official games have been held without spectators in both the Central and Pacific leagues since Friday, and the 12 teams will discuss the details of guidelines for admission of spectators. The J.League has already expressed its intention to accept spectators from July 10.
On Friday, the government lifted a ban on travel across all prefectures as well as events with 1,000 people. It plans to gradually ease its ceiling on event sizes in the future -- including professional sports games -- to "up to 5,000 people or 50% capacity" from July 10, with the aim of eliminating the limit altogether.
Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University specially appointed Prof. Mitsuo Kaku, who chairs an expert team for the liaison conference, said: "I'm happy as a fan for the opening of the professional baseball season. As the J.League will also be held, I want them to establish a new supporting style to attract spectators. I will keep supporting the two sports to be played more safely."
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