The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) are extending the protective netting to the ends of both dugouts Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. The netting will be in place for the team’s final 15 home games.
Installed this week by C&H Baseball of Lakewood Ranch, Fla., the net now extends diagonally to the far end of each dugout, providing additional coverage down each baseline.
After thorough research, Major League Baseball gave recommendations for netting in minor league stadiums. While Northeast Delta Dental Stadium already fell within those recommendations, the Fisher Cats are proud to join many other teams by expanding their netting over the dugouts.
“Minor League Baseball clubs strive to offer safe, family-friendly facilities for our fans and these recommendations will help ensure the safety of those fans sitting close to the action,” Minor League Baseball President and CEO Pat O’Conner said in December. “We wholeheartedly endorse these recommendations made by Major League Baseball in regard to the protective netting in our ballparks and encourage our clubs to implement these recommendations as soon as practical.”
“We’re always striving to create the best possible experience for our fans,” said Fisher Cats President Rick Brenner. “In a world with so many distractions, this is a logical step in making games at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium even safer for everyone that chooses to spend their time here with us.”
Fans can first catch a game with the new netting when the Fisher Cats return home on Monday, August 15 to begin a seven-game homestand against the Binghamton Mets (AA New York Mets) and Altoona Curve (AA Pittsburgh Pirates).