MLB spring training still a hot ticket in Arizona

PHOENIX (AP) — Even during a pandemic, the appetite to sit in the sun and watch Major League Baseball spring training appears robust.

The Arizona Diamondbacks sold out their entire spring allotment of tickets in less than 24 hours after they went on sale to the public. Approximately 2,200 tickets were sold for all 14 of the team's home games, with fans spread throughout the park in pods of two, four or six seats and masks are required except when eating or drinking.

That's 20 percent of the stadium's normal 11,000-person capacity.

“The fact that it sold out as fast as it did — that fires me up,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “We've been looking forward to this day as much as them.”

The Colorado Rockies — who share the Salt River Fields facility with the D-backs — have also sold out of tickets to their home games. The two teams open their spring training schedule against each other next Sunday. Spring training facilities across Arizona and Florida have been making their own decisions about how many fans — if any — are allowed to attend games.

Arizona pitchers Zac Gallen and Stefan Crichton said that having fans in the park would be a welcome change. All 30 teams played without fans during the pandemic-shortened, 60-game schedule in 2020. Limited fans were allowed during the postseason.

“Hopefully we can keep taking steps toward getting the stadiums full,” Crichton said.

New COVID-19 cases have gone down in Arizona over the past few weeks, just like they have throughout most of the country. Lovullo said his team would continue to strictly follow the league's protocols but seeing fans is another reminder that baseball might be a little more “normal” in 2021.

“We missed our fans,” Lovullo said. “Not just Diamondbacks fans but I...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/MLB-spring-training-still-a-hot-ticket-in-Arizona-15968074.php