The Lowell Spinners (Short Season A; NY-Penn League) are the latest team in Minor League Baseball to expand protective netting, as they have installed the addition at LeLacheur Park.
This modification allows the netting to run to the far ends of both dugouts, effectively covering sections 106 through 116. Previously the netting at LeLachuer Park only protected sections 109 through 113, the area behind home plate.
During last December’s Baseball Winter Meetings, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, after a comprehensive study, recommended that all Major League clubs expand the width of their nets. Minor League Baseball President Pat O’Conner endorsed the recommendation for the Minor Leagues as well.
“The safety of our fans is our top priority, which is why we’ve decided to make this change” said Dave Heller. “The Spinners fans are the greatest fans anywhere, and both the team and the City of Lowell are committed to doing all we can to keep our guests safe when they come to LeLacheur Park. Now, with the new netting that we’ve just installed, we will have a level of protection for our fans that is unmatched in Minor League Baseball.”
Fans seeking to sit behind the new protective netting can request tickets for these seats; those fans seeking to watch the game without the cover of netting can likewise request seats beyond the dugout.