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 threat of foul ball accidents.
Regardless of a fan security lawsuit filed in July 2023, and ongoing strain to increase security netting at Dozer Park lately, the Peoria Chiefs proceed to place followers in hurt’s method this spring and summer time.
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 school 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 residence video games between March and Could.
Final summer time, a toddler suffered a critical head harm after being struck by a foul ball on July 28, 2023 at Dozer Park, and was admitted to crucial care at a neighborhood hospital. The incident passed off round Part 101, farther down the traces the place there’s additionally no netting at Dozer Park.
“It might occur once more any day now, so long as this ballpark continues to disregard its responsibility to guard all followers who enter the gates by failing to put in correct netting,” in keeping 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 consider 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 common counsel instructed me final yr that it’s not their accountability. That’s an eye-opening place that demonstrates how callous and disrespectful the skilled leagues are in direction of the followers,” Skopp stated.
The Chiefs have been sued by a foul ball harm sufferer in 2023 for ongoing risks to fan safety at Dozer Park. The case continues to be energetic.
“Three years have handed for the reason that Chiefs started promising that extra netting can be added, and but they proceed to fail to comply with by means of, leaving followers liable to life-altering harm or loss of life. The actual 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 stated.
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 creator of a forthcoming ebook 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 because of the lack of prolonged protecting netting, and associated failures to coach followers about their assumed threat on the ballgame. For extra info, go to Foul Ball Safety Now https://www.foulballsafetynow.com/
