Baseball may be America's pastime but allergies are preventing some families from going to the games. Luckily, stadiums are becoming friendlier for those with peanut allergies.
Most know the lyrics to “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” by Jack Norworth, including the part that goes, “buy me some peanuts and Crackerjacks.”
For some families, a peanut allergy can make going to a game impossible. Many teams have recognized this and are offering allergy free trips to the ballgame.
Peanut-free Fun at the Ballpark
Peanuts are a common snack inside a stadium alongside Crackerjacks and hotdogs. For those with a peanut allergy in the open air of a stadium, peanuts, shells and other debris could trigger an allergic reaction. As an alternative, many major league teams across America are offering enclosed suites that are peanut free for certain games.
Major League Baseball (MLB) teams are being proactive in providing a safe area for individuals with peanut allergies. While not all of the league's teams have allergy free games, close to half of the 32 teams offer an allergy free option.
The teams provide an enclosed suite that has been cleaned and cleared of any peanuts, making it safe for any allergy sufferers. Some teams have signs, medical staff and ushers on hand to try and make the space as peanut free as possible.
Peanut, and tree nut, allergies affect close to three million children in America. Of the deaths caused by food anaphylaxis, peanuts accounted for 50 to 62 percent of them according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Because of this risk, families tend to avoid situations where peanut exposure, like a baseball game, cannot be controlled.
Which Teams are Allergy-friendly?
In the near future, these enclosed suites may become a common feature for most teams. Currently, teams offer a handful of games but for that means some fans are missing out on a chance to go to one of 81 home games.
Now that you know there are ways to go the game with a peanut allergy, is your favorite team one of the allergy friendly options?
For fans of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals, you are in luck. These 16 teams offer at least one peanut-free game this 2012 season.
Go Peanut-free at These Games
For Arizona, allergy free games will be announced shortly. According to The Food Allergy Foundation, who is sponsoring the allergy free games, expect a home game in May to be allergy free.
Baltimore will have five peanut-free games including June 12 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, July 13 vs. Detroit, August 6 vs. Seattle, August 24 vs. Toronto. Boston will have games in May, June and August that will be allergy free.
No dates yet for the Cubs, but the White Sox hosted their first peanut-free game on April 17 against Baltimore. Detroit announced two games this year, April 22 vs. Texas Rangers and May 20 vs. Pittsburgh.
Kansas City is certainly supportive of peanut-free games and is offering up five different games to choose from. Those games include May 16 vs. Baltimore, June 26 vs. Tampa Bay Rays, July 19 vs. Seattle, August 15 vs. Oakland Athletics and September 03 vs. Texas.
Milwaukee has five scheduled peanut-free games. May 07 vs. Cincinnati Reds, June 01 vs. Pittsburgh, July 26 vs. Washington, September 10 vs. Atlanta Braves and September vs. Mets. Fans will have a separate will-call section, early entry, a designated peanut-free entrance and concession stands nearby will not sell peanuts.
Minnesota will have 10 peanut-free home games for fans to choose from. Dates include May 27 vs. Detroit, May 30 vs. Oakland, June 25 vs. White Sox, July 01 vs. Kansas City, July 19 vs. Baltimore, July 30 vs. White Sox, August 12 vs. Tampa Bay, August 28 vs. Seattle, September 09 vs. Cleveland Indians and September 16 vs. White Sox.
The Mets will have a peanut-free game on May 06 vs. Arizona. The Yankees will have two peanut free games, April 19 vs. Minnesota and May 13 vs. Seattle. The Yankees may announce ore games in the future.
San Diego will have a peanut-free game against Arizona on June 03. Seattle will have three games, April 22 vs. White Sox, May 25 vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, July 26 vs. Kansas City and August 15 vs. Tampa Bay.
St. Louis will have three peanut-free games including April 28 vs. Milwaukee, June 10 vs. Cleveland and July 24 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers. Toronto has had peanut-free games in previous seasons but no word yet on games this year. Washington will have peanut-free games on May 19 vs. Baltimore, July 22 vs. Atlanta, August 18 vs. Mets and September 09 vs. Miami Marlins.
Check your team's availability as many of the peanut-free tickets have sold out in the past. Because of the success of a peanut-free alternative, expect more teams to get involved in the near future.
