Protective netting will extend to the foul poles at the upcoming Wichita ballpark, set to open in 2020 for the relocating New Orleans Baby Cakes (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League).
With construction of the facility underway, Wichita, KS and team ownership has revealed that the ballpark will include protective netting that runs from foul pole to foul pole. The announcements come amidst a recent wave of professional baseball teams, including some at the major-league level, that have either extended protective netting during the 2019 season or publicly stated plans to do so in the near future. In the case of Wichita’s ballpark, it is being billed as the first Triple-A facility to incorporate netting to the foul poles during the construction phase.
“As we continue to design and build this state-of-the-art facility, the City remains focused on balancing fan excitement with spectator safety,” Mayor Jeff Longwell said in a press statement. “We want fans of all ages and from all places to feel the excitement of the game while also feeling safe at our facility.”
“Minor League Baseball is all about the family experience of coming out to the ballpark,” Lou Schwechheimer, managing general partner of Wichita Baseball 2020, said in a press statement. “It’s about fan interaction and all the fun things that are going on- from the food to the games to the children’s areas to the playing field. Our first priority is and will always be the safety and well-being of the fans entrusted to our care when coming to the ballpark. The extended netting will benefit everyone both on and off the field.”
The inclusion of the netting will not affect the overall budget of the project, according to the city.
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