No fans at Little League World Series

Attendance at the upcoming Little League World Series will be closed to the public amid the surge in COVID-19 cases across the U.S.

Instead, only the families and friends of the players on the 16 teams that descend annually on Williamsport, Pa., will be allowed at the event, the organization announced Friday.

“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,” Stephen D. Keener, Little League president and CEO, said in a news release.

“With updated guidance from the CDC, and in consultation with our Pandemic Response Advisory Commission and medical advisers, we feel it’s essential to revert our attendance policy to unfortunately limit the spectators in Williamsport.”

The Little League World Series is scheduled to begin Thursday and run through Aug. 29. The eight U.S. regional representatives will receive 250 passes to distribute.

The organization also will give out passes “to highlevel volunteers and supporters,” and all attendees are encouraged to wear face coverings.

The plan called for 3,000 daily passes to be available originally. Eight international teams also will take part, but it wasn’t clear Friday how many tickets would be allocated to them.

“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 make to support that effort at this time,” said Dr. Daniel Lueders, a Little League International board of directors member and a specialist in sports medicine.

The Little League World Series wasn’t played in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.