change?
does not change?
Watching sports after Corona April 23, 16:01
Watching a baseball game with a beer in a packed stadium.
In Japan, where the convergence of the new coronavirus is uncertain, it seems that it is still a long way off, but in the United States, where vaccination is progressing, such a landscape is returning.
Still, there are some changes.
What will happen to watching sports "after Corona"?
We interviewed sites in various parts of the United States.
(American General Bureau Reporter Shuta Yamamoto)
What are stadium essential items?
Major League Baseball that started on April 1st.
Last season there were no spectators except for some playoffs, but this season all 30 teams started with spectators.
In Angels, to which Shohei Ohtani, who has been revived with dual wield throwing, belongs, the upper limit is 15,000, which is one-third of the capacity.
The sight of watching games at a distance for each group is the same as in Japanese professional baseball, but in the United States, it is impossible to watch sports comfortably without a certain device.
It's a smartphone.
All ticket sales are online to prevent infection.
Paper tickets are obsolete and cannot be bought at the counter.
Fans display their tickets on their smartphones and have them read them at the entrance.
A smartphone is a must-have item for watching games cheaply.
As the ticket owners are officially allowed to resell, the prices of unsold tickets will drop as the match starts.
Until just before the game, some fans are staring at the smartphone resale app in front of the entrance gate.
Smartphones also fill your stomach.
You can also order hot dogs, cola, and beer from the dedicated site by scanning the QR code displayed throughout the stadium.
Enter your seat number and a clerk will bring you to your seat in minutes.
This system is becoming more common not only in Major League Baseball, but also in the NBA = American professional basketball.
At the home arena of Nets, a popular team in New York, we will "deliver" not only food and drink but also team goods such as uniforms.
The delivery service, which has become firmly established in our lives due to the corona wreck, has spread to the stadium.
"Dog inspection" !?
On the other hand, some teams have taken measures that are far from digital.
It's the NBA heat in Miami, Florida.
The countermeasure is "corona detection dog".
It is said that visitors can be scented to see if they are infected.
So far, it has been carried out at airports in Europe, and there are even research results that can detect more than 90% correctly.
I heard that it was the first time that it was introduced to the field of professional sports in the United States, so I headed to Miami.
The day of the match.
A large tent was set up near the entrance gate of the arena.
There were two German shepherds, along with guards.
One hour before the start of the game, when the spectators lined up in two rows in the tent, the two heads passed by, moving their noses.
Having been trained for several months, he quickly "detects".
If the dog smells his hand and sits down, he is suspected of being infected.
All groups, including those who have been detected, will not be able to enter, and the ticket fee will be refunded.
The maximum number of spectators is 4000 per game.
According to the team, some groups (around dozens of people) may not be able to enter due to being caught in a "dog inspection" by a detection dog, but on the day of the interview, there was no scene where the dog sat down, and the fans were relieved. I entered the venue as it looked.
Even so, can the dog's sense of smell really detect the corona?
People who experienced it heard voices of pros and cons.
"It's a cool and interesting initiative."
"Do I have to go home if my dog sits down? It's ridiculous. I have to pray."
There is a later story about this story.
In April, Heat decided to finish the "dog inspection" in response to the progress of vaccination in the United States.
From now on, it is said that you can enter if you follow the rules such as wearing a mask.
The team emphasized that during the two months or so when the detection dog was active, there were some successes, saying that there were no outbreaks among the team and fans.
Also in the "lawless zone" stadium
While the movement to encourage fans to enjoy watching sports with peace of mind is spreading, there are also sites where the brakes are released at once.
The Southern Texas-based Major League Baseball Rangers have decided not to limit the number of spectators at their home stadium, Globe Life Field, following the relaxation of state regulations.
It's the first time in the American sports world that the audience limit has been lifted since the pandemic, and the opening game of the home on April 5 was packed with more than 38,000 fans, almost full.
When entering the stadium, there is not even a body temperature measurement, let alone a "dog check" of the detection dog.
New York stadiums require proof of vaccination or negative proof within 72 hours, but that is not necessary either.
Masks are required to be worn in the stadium, but many people do not.
The actual feeling is about half.
This is a hamburger shop in the stadium.
There was a long line that made me want to say what the QR code ordering system was.
Fear grows as I continue to cover everywhere in the "Three Cs" stadium.
Why are there so many people who don't care about corona?
"I've been vaccinated, so I'm not so worried."
"I
've
already been infected with corona
, so
I have antibodies."
So that's it.
The consciousness that "I will not be infected anymore" has made people so open.
Of course, this is a mistake, and it can infect new mutant viruses or infect others.
President Biden has also criticized Texas's easing of masking obligations and the Rangers' response as "a big mistake."
However, from the fans' point of view, "If you're worried about that, you can't enjoy watching sports."
I can't forget what the man in the audience said during the interview.
"Why are you not scared many times. I'm not scared. I'm a Texas guy."
The most doping ??
Behind the Rangers' decision to lift the spectator restrictions is the management of the team.
In the major leagues last season, the number of games was reduced, resulting in a decrease in income of over 300 billion yen for the entire league, and further stagnation could put pressure on the management of the baseball team itself.
Of course, the situation is the same for teams other than the Rangers, but as long as the rules of the state are relaxed, it may be unavoidable from the management's point of view to lean toward the decision to "enter as many spectators as possible."
With the enhancement of television and online broadcasting, sports games can be watched anytime, anywhere.
Still, watching a game in a immersive stadium is still the best entertainment for fans.
Whether or not there is a spectator is a big factor for the players as well.
Angels Otani
emphasizes that
fans are
so special that they affect their play, with a unique expression of
"the most doping (power to inspire)"
.
It is a new mission required of all teams to create an environment where fans can watch the game safely and with peace of mind.
Of course, the Major League Baseball and the NBA need to take the lead.
How about the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics?
The response of the sports world is being questioned.
Reporter of the US General
Bureau
Shuta Yamamoto Joined in
2010 After working at Kochi Broadcasting Station and Hiroshima Broadcasting Station, he was in charge of skiing, rugby, and athletics.