Before it reaches one full month of baseball, the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) will open the stands to fans. Starting Friday, 8 May, as many as 1,000 fans will be admitted to each game after the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) approved a proposal by the league.
The CPBL was the first professional baseball league to open its season after sports leagues around the world were shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic. CPBL resumed play on 12 April in empty ballparks. Robots and cardboard cut-outs were serving as spectators.
CPBL Secretary-General Feng Sheng-xian commented that the presence of fans will be "a major morale boost" for the league and announced that CPBL has prepared "detailed epidemic prevention measures" for fans attending the games.
Two games are scheduled for 8 May. The Xinzhuang Stadium in Taipei will host Fubon Guardians-UniPresident 7-Eleven Lions, while ChinaTrust (CTBC) Brothers will host the Rakuten Monkeys at Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung.
The Xinzhuang Stadium has a capacity of 12,500, while the Intercontinental Stadium can accommodate 20,000 fans.
The Rakuten Monkeys lead the league with a current record of 11-3, followed by the Chinatrust Brothers (8-9), the Fubon Guardians (6-9) and the UniPresident 7-Eleven Lions (7-11).
Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen congratulated CPBL for becoming the first professional baseball league in the world to allow fans to attend games. She will not be able to accept the invitation to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, however.
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