Shorebirds adding protective netting in effort to increase fan safety

SALISBURY, Md. – The Delmarva Shorebirds plan to expand the netting at Perdue Stadium to improve fan safety by the end of July.

The Shorebirds will begin installing newer and stronger safety netting in late July while the team is on a road trip. The old netting behind home plate will be replaced and extending out to the end of both dugouts.

The new netting is slimmer than what is currently up at Perdue Stadium, and make for a better view for fans than the current nets, according to General Manager Chris Bitters.

We’re told if you’re a season ticket holder and you don’t like sitting behind the nets, you do have the option to move.

Team management says they want to keep more seats safe without sacrificing a first class view.

“Fan safety is always a concern for folks. Everything we do, we think about fan safety. Netting has become the hot topic over the last 12 to 24 months, with lot of major league teams extending to where we’re going, and most minor league teams have done that,” Bitters explained.

The new netting is expected to be completed by July 30, in time for three weeks of regular season games before the beginning of the Sally League playoffs.