With no players and little time left, Boise Hawks season delayed ‘indefinitely’
The 34th summer of Boise Hawks baseball was supposed to start Wednesday. But the Northwest League delayed that season opener, and the status of the rest of the season remains in question.
The minor-league baseball circuit announced it will delay its season indefinitely Friday during the global coronavirus pandemic. The Northwest League also canceled its yearly all-star game with the Pioneer League, which Boise hosted last summer.
“The league and its clubs will continue to monitor the situation and work with our Major League Baseball affiliates, while following the recommendations of public health officials and adhering to local reopening guidelines,” the league wrote in a statement. “As always, the health and safety of the Northwest League fans, players and staff members is our top priority.”
Safety remains one challenge. But the lack of players remains a larger one.
Major League Baseball is still negotiating with its players union on a shortened season. All minor-league baseball remains on hold until those two sides can strike a deal.
Minor-league camps dispersed in March and players have not returned. Boise would typically begin receiving players this week in preparation for the season. It has received none.
Idaho sporting venues can reopen Saturday as long as they can maintain physical distancing between fans and employees. But the rest of the Northwest League, with teams in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, remains under more stringent guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19.
For example, the U.S.-Canada border will likely remain closed to nonessential travel until late July. And Oregon’s governor previously said not to expect sporting events with large crowds until September.
Minor-league teams generate nearly all of their revenue from fans in the stands.
“We are all smart enough to know what’s going on,” Northwest League President North Johnson told the Idaho Statesman on Wednesday. “What I can tell you is we have not been given any official notification from Major League Baseball. We have to base what we’re doing on that.”
Boise Hawks General Manager Mike Van Hise said the club will begin conversations with season-ticket holders about their tickets in the coming days.
This story was originally published June 12, 2020 at 1:16 PM.
