Falling bobblehead inspires bill requiring nets at Minnesota stadiums
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minnesota man injured by a falling bobblehead at Target Field last fall has led state lawmakers to consider legislation forcing teams to install more protective netting in their stadiums.
S.F. No. 2698, sponsored by state Sen. Steve Cwodzinski, would affect any team that has more than one seating tier, KMSP-TV reported. Cwodzinski introduced the bill on Feb. 3 and it was referred to the Senate Labor Committee, which held a meeting on Wednesday, according to the television station.
The committee approved an amendment that would require the protective nets to extend at least one foot from the edge of the upper deck, but the panel did not vote on the bill itself, according to KMSP.
“It felt like a chunk of the ceiling cement had fallen,” Doug Johnson told the committee on Wednesday, the television station reported. “I played a little bit of professional hockey and I’ve been hit many times in the head. I don’t know if I’ve been hit as hard as this hit me in the head.”
Johnson said he had taken his seat as the Minnesota Twins began their Sept. 25, 2021, game against the Toronto Blue Jays when a Justin Morneau bobblehead fell out of a suite above him and hit him in the head, KMSP reported.
The Twins had a promotion that night, giving away 10,000 Morneau bobblehead dolls to celebrate the former first baseman’s induction into the team’s Hall of Fame.
The Twins oppose the legislation, and Dave Horsman, the team’s vice president of ballpark operations, testified in front of the committee on Wednesday, according to KMSP. He told lawmakers that such incidents had only happened a few times during his 27-year tenure with the team.
“It’s really very rare,” Horsman said. “In my view, this represents a logistically difficult and cost-prohibitive reaction to what really is an isolated incident.”
All 30 Major League Baseball teams have extended protective nets down the foul lines in recent years after fans were hit by batted balls. However, no teams have installed upper deck nets, Horsman testified.
