As of this week, our hometown Pittsburgh Pirates are still scheduled to play two games in San Juan Puerto Rico on May 30 and 31 against the Miami Marlins. But the two-game series is becoming less and less likely, amid concerns regarding the Zika virus. Players from both teams have shrugged when asked about their desire to play the series, which will honor the late Pirate superstar Roberto Clemente. While many folks in mainland USA could care less whether or not the series happens, Puerto Ricans have every reason to be upset about its likely cancellation. In this week’s wrap, we take you through some recent news stories on the Puerto Rico baseball series and its implications for the island territory.
The issue extends well beyond the $2 million Puerto Rico has invested in the series over the past year. The current debt crisis, high unemployment rate, poverty and gang violence have tainted Puerto Rico’s reputation. Cancelling a Major League Baseball series would throw disease into the mix when it comes to people’s perceptions of the island. Not playing the series would effectively rob the country of a likely $5 million in revenue.
Folks in the MLB seem to be thinking better safe than sorry. When Miami Marlins players were surveyed about whether or not they wanted to play in Puerto Rico, the vote was a unanimous no. Pirates players agreed. Their lack of willingness to undertake such a trip is understandable – but bad news for the economy of Puerto Rico.
The series is supposed to coincide with Roberto Clemente Day in number 21’s home country. If played, it would be the first major league game played on the island since 2010 – certainly something Puerto Rican citizens would welcome with open arms, given their love of baseball.
Regardless of the actual severity of Puerto Rico’s Zika problem, the territory could certainly use the economic boost, as well as the positive publicity, that the baseball series would provide.
Have your own opinions on the upcoming series in Puerto Rico? Let us know in the comments below!
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Sam Bojarski is an associate at WordWrite Communications. He can be reached at sam.bojarski@wordwritepr.com.
