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WILLIAMSPORT -- For fans throughout Lycoming County and elsewhere, the chance of sitting on the hill beyond Lamade Stadium or in the grass beyond Volunteer Stadium and enjoying a Little League World Series game this summer is no longer possible.
On Friday morning, Little League International announced that due to the ongoing impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the general public admission would be canceled for this year's 2021 Little League World Series.
Little League had previously announced general public tickets through an online system that would have allowed up to 3,000 fans each day of the Series to sit past the outfield at both stadiums.
"The health and well-being of our teams and mitigating their exposure to COVID-19 must continue to be our main priority, as we conclude our World Series events," Little League president and CEO Stephen Keener said. "With updated guidance from the CDC, and in consultation with our Pandemic Response Advisory Commission and medical advisors, we feel it's essential to revert our attendance policy to unfortunately limit the spectators in Williamsport to the family and friends of our 16 participating teams and our highest-level volunteers and supporters.
"We are disappointed that we must rollback our spectators joining us in Williamsport this year, but are eager to provide a safe, enjoyable experience for the 16 teams who will compete in the World Series this summer," Keener continued.
Little League continued to follow the COVID-19 mitigation protocols for organizing its regional and World Series tournaments, which was developed in consultation with its advisors from National Jewish Health who worked on similar health safety plans at both the youth and adult levels.
"In May, our organization made the decision to move forward with our Little League Baseball and Softball tournaments this summer, with the focus of providing the boys and girls in our program that magical Little League World Series experience while protecting their health and well-being," Little League International Board of Directors member Dr. Daniel Lueders said. "As this virus evolves, we must continue to stay vigilant and do everything we can to reduce exposure of COVID-19 to our players and participants. Reducing fans in Williamsport is a disappointing, but necessary, measure we must take to support this effort at this time."
Lueders is a UPMC sports medicine physician and commission chair.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced Little League to cancel its regional tournaments and World Series last summer. This spring, Little League announced it would be having regional tournaments and World Series at the major baseball and softball levels this year.
Unlike previous Series, this year's incarnation will feature only U.S. teams due to the pandemic. The 16-team field is made up of the eight regional champions and runners-up.
Little League is still trying to finalize plans regarding the MLB Little League Classic with safety for players. In year's past, MLB players were greeted at Williamsport Regional Airport by numerous Little League World Series players before riding a bus to the Little League World Series complex together. At the complex, MLB players would sit in the stands with Little League World Series teams and interact with one another. With the new Delta variant and risk of possibly spreading COVID-19, all of that is still being worked on.
"As far as the MLB LLC, we are still working on finalizing our plans with Major League Baseball and the MLBPA to determine the safest and most fun interactions possible for both Major League and Little League World Series players," Little League director of media relations Kevin Fountain told the Sun-Gazette.
The MLB Little League Classic is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 22 at Bowman Field between the Los Angeles Angels and the Cleveland Indians.