Lugnuts make change to ballpark with fan safety in mind
James L. Edwards III, Lansing State Journal 1:36 p.m. EDT March 29, 2016
There will be a new look to Cooley Law School Stadium next time you go to check out the Lansing Lugnuts, and fan experience and safety are the reasons.
The minor league baseball team is in the process of installing a new safety net behind home plate to protect its supporters from the action on the field. The new net, which is roughly 32 feet tall, will span seven seating sections of the ballpark, from home plate to the edge of each dugout. The previous net protected five sections.
The changes come after Major League Baseball recommended that all nets cover any seats that fall within 70 feet of home plate.
“It’s all about safety,” Lugnuts General Manager Nick Grueser said. “Our ballpark is very intimate, which is nice from a fan perspective, but, also, you have to pay attention. A lot of our fans don’t always pay attention to the game — they come for (other) stuff that we do. This really protects them.”
Grueser added that the net is ”more durable and stronger, but not as thick” as the previous one. The goal was to increase fan safety while not taking away from the experience.
“The visibility is better,” Grueser said. “For fans that have always sat behind the net, season ticket holders or anyone that sits back there, we’re actually minimizing the amount of cables that we have.”
The Lugnuts are also in the process of adding three new gates for field access. Those gates have a clear, plexiglass-type surface to them, according to Grueser, to help with visibility as well.
Both of the additions are expected to be completed well before Lansing takes on Michigan State in the Crosstown Showdown on April 6. Opening day for the Lugnuts is April 7.
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/2016/03/29/lugnuts-make-change-ballpark-fan-safety-mind/82379042/