Baseball fans took out a full-page ad in a Milwaukee newspaper to call on MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to include them in labor talks during the ongoing work stoppage.
"Fans don't need one-way declarations about your cancellation of the sport we love. If you're going to collectively bargain over how to best divvy up our money, what we really want is to be heard and respected. We want a seat at the table," the National Fans Union wrote in the Journal Sentinel in response to an open letter by Manfred when the lockout was implemented in early December.
"Without us, decisions will be made with only the billionaire owners and millionaire players in mind: not the fans whose support makes the entire enterprise possible," the group added. "With us, MLB has an opportunity to change the conversation and turn this labor dispute into an historic 'calling in' of the group most often disregarded.
"It's time for fans to be part of the conversation over how our dollars should be spent, and how our favorite pastimes treat us."
MLB and the MLBPA need to reach a deal before March or the start of the regular season will be in jeopardy. Spring training and exhibition games have already been delayed.
