Los Angeles Dodgers: Bad timing to remind fans to pay for All-Star Game

On a day when Major League Baseball announced the postponement of some spring training games, the Los Angeles Dodgers should have read the room a little bit better when connecting with their fans and asking for their dollars.

The Los Angeles Dodgers asking fans for their money for Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game on the same day spring training games are canceled was in bad taste.

According to a tweet from Bill Shaikin, who covers baseball for The Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Dodgers reminded fans on Friday (the same day that MLB postponed the first set of spring training games) that they would need to turn over their money soon for a game which is on the schedule, but is certainly up in the air until Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) can come to some kind of agreement and the 2022 regular season actually begins.

The MLB All-Star Game is scheduled for Tuesday, July 19, at Dodger Stadium. It will be the second time that the Midsummer Classic has come to Chavez Ravine, with the last coming in 1980. While there is plenty of excitement about the All-Star Game returning to Los Angeles, reminding fans that their money is coming due soon for the event reads a little tone-deaf. After all, when spring training games are being postponed, transactions have been brought to a halt, MLB and MLBPA have barely met for negotiations, and no one knows exactly when baseball will return to the mound and what the 2022 season might actually look like, it’s tough for many fans to pull out the credit card, even for one of the highlights of the season.

Sure, it’s understandable that MLB and the Dodgers have to move forward with plans for the All-Star Game even if the sport at the MLB level is at a standstill at the moment. But doesn’t it feel like there’s been a lot of taking from the fans over the past few days, and not an ounce of give?

That’s where the Dodgers have to read the room a little better. If there’s even a chance that the sides could actually come to an agreement by February 28 and owners would end the lockout, allowing the season to start on time, then wait a week or two to remind ticket holders that money is going to be required of them to attend a baseball game.

Baseball, you’re asking a lot from fans right now. Maybe, just maybe, now isn’t the time to ask them for even more.