SPORTS
July 15, 2019
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 9
MLB scraps 2020 Asia opener;
Manfred eyes more Europe games
By Ronald Blum
The Associated Press
L
ONDON — Major League Baseball (MLB) has
scrapped plans to open its 2020 season in Asia and
hopes to play more games in Europe.
MLB started its season in Tokyo for the fifth time in
2019, and its labor contract with the players’ union called
for a 2020 opener in Asia.
“We just decided it probably wasn’t the right time to try
to do it,” Manfred said.
In addition to Tokyo and London, MLB had two series in
Monterrey, Mexico.
“We have a fairly small international staff. This was a
really aggressive play for us this year,” Manfred said.
Union head Tony Clark said baseball is focusing on a
2020 offseason tour.
“So we still have Asia tentatively on the calendar as far
as we’re concerned,” Clark said in a text. “The 2019 events
have taxed the initial play plan that was anticipated
during the term of this agreement.”
The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox played
MLB’s first games in Europe in late June at London’s
Olympic Stadium, the home of the Premier League soccer
club West Ham. The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis
Cardinals are to play at the same venue next June.
“I would like to have sustained play in Europe,”
Manfred said. “I’m glad we’re coming back next year. I’d
like to be back after that. But I am interested in having
play in other cities in Europe.”
Manfred would not identify which cities interest him.
“We’re really at a very preliminary point. The key thing
with any city is the facility,” he said. “A lot of people will
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BASEBALL IN BRITAIN. New York Yankees starting pitcher
Masahiro Tanaka throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox during the
first inning of a baseball game in London. Major League Baseball made
its European debut game at Olympic Stadium. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
tell you they can build a ballpark. Until you get on the
ground and figure whether a particular facility can be
configured for baseball, it’s just premature to get into
other cities.”
Manfred said 70% of the tickets for the Yankees-Red
Sox games were sold in Britain and 30% in the U.S. Red
Sox season ticket holders purchased an average of 5,831
seats per game and Yankees buyers 4,752 during the
presale.
“We’re trying to bring baseball to the U.K., so that 70%
is important to us,” he said. “That 30% is our most loyal,
devoted, interested fan base, and the fact that those
people want to travel either from New York or Boston to
Continued on page 15
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