The Peoria Chiefs stay the one considered one of 120 minor league golf equipment that proceed to function with no netting in any respect above the dugouts, placing followers at increased danger of foul ball accidents.
Regardless of a fan security lawsuit filed in July 2023, and ongoing strain to increase security netting at Dozer Park in recent times, the Peoria Chiefs proceed to place followers in hurt’s method this spring and summer season.
Peoria stays the one considered one of 120 minor league golf equipment that proceed to function with no netting in any respect above the dugouts.
The Bradley Braves faculty baseball group not too long ago concluded their season at Dozer Park as effectively, which means their fan base was additionally in danger. It’s unclear whether or not there have been any fan accidents at their house video games between March and Might.
Final summer season, a baby suffered a critical head damage after being struck by a foul ball on July 28, 2023 at Dozer Park, and was admitted to vital care at a neighborhood hospital. The incident happened round Part 101, farther down the strains the place there may be additionally no netting at Dozer Park.
“It might occur once more any day now, so long as this ballpark continues to disregard its obligation to guard all followers who enter the gates by failing to put in correct netting,” in accordance with Jordan Skopp, founding father of Foul Ball Security Now.
The Peoria Chiefs are an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals of Main League Baseball.
“I imagine that the Cardinals’ MLB franchise owes it to all their minor league followers to step up and repair this example instantly. However I’m not holding my breath, since their normal counsel advised me final 12 months that it’s not their accountability. That’s an eye-opening place that demonstrates how callous and disrespectful the skilled leagues are in the direction of the followers,” Skopp mentioned.
The Chiefs have been sued by a foul ball damage sufferer in 2023 for ongoing risks to fan safety at Dozer Park. The case continues to be lively.
“Three years have handed for the reason that Chiefs started promising that extra netting could be added, and but they proceed to fail to comply with by means of, leaving followers prone to life-altering damage or dying. The very fact is that netting might’ve been put in at any level in a matter of days, and their continued kicking the can down the street. It’s irresponsible, and there’s no excuse for it,” Skopp mentioned.
Foul ball threats to fan security proceed all through skilled baseball. Simply this previous weekend, an 8-year-old boy was struck in the eye by a foul ball at Dodger Stadium – the identical ballpark the place the 2 identified fan fatalities from foul balls occurred.
About Foul Ball Security Now
Foul Ball Security Now! is a marketing campaign began by Jordan Skopp, a Brooklyn realtor, lifelong baseball fan, and writer of a forthcoming e book in regards to the wildly missed scandal within the skilled baseball business – the all-too-frequent incidence of followers being maimed by harmful foul balls as a result of lack of prolonged protecting netting, and associated failures to teach followers about their assumed danger on the ballgame. For extra data, go to Foul Ball Safety Now https://www.foulballsafetynow.com/
