Minor League Baseball Out In 2020 Due To COVID-19

Minor League Baseball announced Tuesday afternoon that they are cancelling the 2020 season due to COVID-19.

Tuesday, June 30th 2020, 7:20 pm



Minor League Baseball announced Tuesday afternoon that they are cancelling the 2020 season due to COVID-19.

In a press release Tuesday, OKC Dodgers GM Michael Byrnes said, "Although we are saddened, we fully support the decision made by Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball to cancel the 2020 Minor League Baseball season. During this time, we must do what is in the best interest of public health and safety so we can welcome Dodgers baseball back to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in the future."

The Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates the direct spending impact of the Dodgers 2019 season came out to $38,250,000. That includes not only ballpark revenue, but hotel stays for visiting teams. Bureau president Michael Carrier said losing Dodgers revenue is just one of many things the city is missing this year.

"But like everything else this year, hotel occupancy is way down because cooperate travel is not taking place," Carrier said.

Until Tuesday, the OKC Dodgers have been in somewhat of a 3-month long rundown, unsure of which direction they were going.

Speaking to GM Michael Byrnes before Tuesday's decision to cancel the season, he said it will be nice to have closure one way or the other so they can plan accordingly.

"It's challenging to do in an environment where you don't have clear answers. And so, I've been really proud of what our staff has done," Byrnes said.

The Dodgers have hosted amateur baseball showcases and have some concerts planned in the future. Byrnes said as of now, they haven't had to lay-off or furlough full-time employees.

But it's not all doom and gloom for the Dodgers. Byrnes said the majority of season ticket holders and those who booked group outings are not asking for refunds but electing to transfer their purchases to next season.

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