Last MLB season, every game — with the exception of the NLCS and World Series — was played behind closed doors as baseball tried to manage an abbreviated season amid a global pandemic.
And while the coronavirus pandemic is still very much an ongoing crisis, sports leagues across the U.S. have allowed fans to attend games at reduced capacities. That appears to also be the case for the 2021 MLB season.
But you have to feel for the Miami Marlins. They walked right into the joke.
On Monday, Marlins chief executive Derek Jeter announced that the team will open Marlins Park at 20 percent capacity to start this season. That would be just over 7,300 fans.
20% capacity at Marlins Park to start the season per Marlins CEO Derek Jeter.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) February 15, 2021
In 2019, the Marlins averaged 10,016 fans per game as the listed attendance. So, you could probably imagine how baseball fans reacted to Jeter’s news.
i know i'm late on this but…who will be able to tell the difference? https://t.co/l5vdEs3KuI
— bomani (@bomani_jones) February 15, 2021
Marlins “old normal” and “new normal” will be identical. Bravo. https://t.co/GfGJxKB4LU
— Damon Bruce (@DamonBruce) February 15, 2021
They do this every year, just announcing it formally in 2021. https://t.co/hyqdZdv8x8
— Ted (@tlschwerz) February 15, 2021
Setting lofty goals to double their attendance from 2019 https://t.co/32sVlgHPK8
— Kyle Bandujo (@kylebandujo) February 15, 2021
According to their official (probably inflated) attendance numbers, the 2019 Marlins failed to reach 20% capacity at roughly a third of their home games. https://t.co/8mSfF7yQPB
— Andrew Alix (@AndrewAlixRadio) February 15, 2021
The jokes write themselves. https://t.co/D2myN9fNCz
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) February 15, 2021
Feels like lofty expectations but I like Jeter trying to push the envelope and set meaningful goals for increasing attendance. Changing the culture! https://t.co/DppErRYp0m
— Brenden Schaeffer (@bschaeffer12) February 15, 2021
Marlins going back to their full attendance for the 2021 season 👀 https://t.co/tKXaRsUmes
— yankeesgiantsavenue (@yankeesgiantsa1) February 15, 2021
Was it ever at 20% capacity? https://t.co/EhxTJaEBVc
— Big Mets Fan – wears mask (@bigmetsfan1) February 15, 2021
Poor Marlins.
