Nippon Professional Baseball decided Saturday to close doors to spectators at games in prefectures placed under the latest novel coronavirus-related state of emergency from Sunday through May 11.
Officials also agreed to try and shuffle the regular-season schedule to eventually welcome as many spectators as possible.
The affected stadiums are Tokyo Dome and Jingu Stadium in Tokyo; Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture; and Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka.
Five teams -- the Yomiuri Giants, Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Hanshin Tigers, Orix Buffaloes and Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters -- were scheduled to host a combined 27 games at these stadiums during the state of emergency.
Of these 27 games, three were set for Sunday. Spectators were ultimately allowed to attend the Sunday games on an exceptional basis, in light of the confusion that might arise when trying to process the ticket cancellations on such short notice.
"Professional baseball relies on its fans, and it was a tough decision to hold the games without spectators," NPB Commissioner Atsushi Saito said at a press conference.
He also indicated that NPB will ask for some form of compensation, including a cancellation fee for tickets already sold.
Meanwhile, Saito expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of recognition for the accumulated knowledge and experience in infection-control measures NPB has gained from putting protocols in place last season. Changes include a call for a new approach to in-stadium cheering that features no shouting as well as regular coronavirus testing that includes the players.
"I can't understand why professional baseball and J.League games, which are being held under strict scrutiny that includes repeated verification of the quarantine system and tens of thousands of PCR tests, should be treated the same way as people eating and drinking in group without being monitored," Saito vented during the news conference.
Joint conference sessions discussing measures to battle the coronavirus were established by both NPB and the J.League in March last year and have been held 30 times so far. In cooperation with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and other organizations, the two leagues have been conducting research to ensure safer environments for contests.
"Without a rational explanation and financial compensation, it will not easily be accepted. I hope that the government and local authorities understand the circumstances that led us to make this difficult choice," Saito said.
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