Guardians’ home opener on collision course with solar eclipse in Cleveland

“It’s a really, really, really big deal,” said Jay Ryan, a self-described “astronomy nerd” and eclipse educator. “It’s hard to communicate to people how big of a deal this is. They’ve seen a partial eclipse in the past, and were like, meh. This is breathtaking.”

Undoubtedly exciting for many, the eclipse does create some logistical concerns for others, especially the Guardians, who are trying to decide an ideal time to start the opener while balancing transportation, parking and other concerns.

Cleveland will be jam-packed.

Officials are estimating 200,000 visitors will descend upon the city strictly to view the eclipse, with 50,000 expected to attend an event at the Great Lakes Science Center, where NASA is setting up one of three national broadcasting hubs.

Throw in any college basketball fans still in town from the NCAA Women’s Final Four from April 5-7, on top of the 35,000 coming to see the Guardians game, and downtown Cleveland will be bursting at the seams.

The Guardians have started their home openers in recent years with a 4:10 p.m. first pitch. This year, though, that falls in the partial-eclipse window when fans may still be distracted by the overhead phenomenon and not focused on seeing All-Star third baseman José Ramírez step into the batter’s box against the Chicago White Sox.

The team has spent months weighing whether to embrace the eclipse and open the ballpark early to allow fans to watch it together — an opening act on opening day — or wait until it’s over and play a night game.

The Guardians, who start on an 11-game trip, are expected to announce their decision on the opener in coming days.

Ryan believes the social element of the eclipse can’t be underestimated. As he excitedly described the moon’s 124-mile shadow gradually fading and then temporarily extinguishing the sun’s brightness, Ryan said the moment before darkness is overwhelming.

“The color of the sky goes from bluish, grayish to black,” he said. “And then, boom! Totality. You are in nighttime. It’s heart pounding. It’s exciting. People are screaming. I’ll tell you what, to be with a sports crowd, just imagine someone hitting a grand slam. To be down there with a bunch of fans would be great.”

There could be one problem: Cleveland’s wacky weather.

“You had to go there,” Ryan said.

The Guardians have dealt with snow on opening day before. In 2007, their first four games in Cleveland were snowed out from April 6-9, forcing the team to play its “home” opener in Milwaukee.

Ryan has been closely monitoring the long-term forecast and Cleveland’s weather history. He feels somewhat encouraged that April 8 in 2020 and 2023 there were “blue, crystal-clear skies,” while also noting that wasn’t the case in 2021 and 2022.

“It’s a coin toss,” he said with a laugh.

Who knows. Maybe the eclipse could be a sign of something bigger on the way in Cleveland, which hasn’t celebrated a World Series title since 1948.

“If we get a beautiful day,” Ryan said. “This is going to beat the 1948 World Series.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.