Baltimore Orioles baseball game will be closed to the public over safety concerns

Tuesday’s game was postponed after Monday brought riots and violence

(Getty Images)

The Baltimore Orioles baseball team will play its game against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday afternoon – a day after cancelling a game – but the stadium will be closed to the public over safety concerns in Baltimore.

Protests have been on-going in Baltimore since 25-year-old Freddie Gray died while in police custody earlier this month. The protests had been peaceful, but devolved into riots on Monday, resulting in arson and looting across the city. More than 200 people were arrested.

The violence caused the Orioles – Baltimore’s professional baseball team – to postpone its game Tuesday. Baseball will be back in Camden Yards on Wednesday, but the game will be played before an empty stadium.

“After consultation with Major League Baseball and city and local officials, tomorrow’s game between the Orioles and Chicago White Sox will begin at 2:05 pm and will be closed to the public,” the Orioles said in a statement.

The possibility of further violence in Baltimore also has prompted the team to move its next three home games on May 1-3 to Tampa, Florida, though the Orioles will be the home team.

Fans with tickets to Wednesday’s game or the games moved to Tampa will be able to exchange unused tickets for admission to future games, on a “dollar-for-dollar” basis, the team said.

Follow @PaytonGuion on Twitter.