‘Today's official paid attendance is ... zero’: Baltimore Orioles play to empty stadium amid violent riots sweeping city

The Baltimore Orioles ran out the White Sox 8-2 at home today – but there were no beer or hotdog vendors, no screams of support for the home side or booing of the visitors – because there were no spectators.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards stood empty, with Major League Baseball officials deciding to lock fans out in the wake of violence stoked by anger over the death of a black man from injuries sustained while in police custody.

It’s believed to be the first time in the history of professional baseball in the United States that fans had been locked out of a game.

While the game was televised and live streamed for free by Major League Baseball, a handful of dedicated fans packed up against the stadium’s gates to try and catch a glimpse of the match.

One of the spectators, Brendan Hurson, attacked the decision as a missed opportunity.

Mr Hurson held up a sign reading "Don't forget Freddie Gray" - referring to the African-American man whose death triggered this week's violence.

"I just wanted to make sure that everyone remembered that the reason we were not allowed into this game today is ultimately because the police killed Freddie Gray," the 37-year-old told AFP.

"The focus has to be on police brutality and Freddie Gray. I just wanted to make sure people didn't forget that."

Mr Hurson, a public defender who'd taken the day off to see the game, said the city should have explored more creative alternatives than closing the stadium.

"It strikes me as though this would have been a great opportunity to welcome the community into a game where the proceeds could have been donated to local organizations that are going to help build the city back up.

"They could have invited the kids they've been calling thugs all week to watch the game," Mr Hurson said.

Journalists accredited to cover the game reported that the voices of players on the infield could be heard clearly as the game progressed.

"Attention media: For record-keeping purposes, today's official paid attendance is ... zero," an announcement made over the press box public address system informed reporters.

The New York Times has reported that sirens from emergency services vehicles responding to the riots could also be heard inside the stadium.

"Baseball is filled with the strange, but this is beyond strange,'' Major League Baseball's official historian John Thorn told CNN.

Baltimore is rapidly become a site of strange occurrences in the wake of the riots. Yesterday the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra gave a free concert in support of the community outside the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, which is only a couple of blocks from areas badly hit by looting.

On Monday a Michael Jackson impersonator was caught on camera moon walking and singing “Man in the Mirror” as police and protesters clashed and fires were lit around him.

With AFP.