The Baltimore Orioles, after cancelling two straight games against the Chicago White Sox, will play the third game of their series in an empty stadium on Wednesday.
The surreal scene stems from the ongoing unrest in Baltimore. Rioting over the death of Freddie Gray, a man who died a week after an arrest in the city, catalyzed protests which turned violent. Monday night witnessed youths hurling rocks at police, arson, and widespread looting.
“After consultation with Major League Baseball and city and local officials, tomorrow’s game between the Orioles and the Chicago White Sox will begin at 2:05 p.m. ET and will be closed to the public,” the Orioles announced in Tuesday press release.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, an MLB source said Wednesday’s game will be the “first contest played without fan admittance” in the league’s history.
The missed games mean missed revenue for the team. Apart from the game without fans, the Orioles will make up the two postponed games against the White Sox in a single-gate doubleheader on May 28.
Additionally, the Orioles will play this weekend’s series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg instead of in Baltimore. The Orioles play as the home team in the home of their AL East rivals.