Fairbanks' 115-year Midnight Sun baseball game tradition will continue. Earlier this spring the Alaska Goldpanners, who have hosted the game for the last six decades, announced that they would not hold the popular Growden Park event because of COVID-19 concerns, but local American Legion and Adult league teams have come up with an alternative plan.
Ray Pulsifer manages one of Fairbanks' two American Legion baseball teams for local teenagers. He says they already host a Midnight Sun Tournament for teams from the Interior and South Central, and have gotten permission from the Goldpanners to play a Solstice game at Growden Park.
MSG Plan: Q:”…their best players.” :13
Pulsifer says there will be a score board operator, a play by play announcer, and food trucks in the parking lot. He says admission and hand sanitizer will be free, and that it will be up to fans to social distance. Pulsifer organized the alternative game with Fairbanks other American Legion team manager Rod Perdue, and Goldpanners general manager John Lohrke. Lohrke says he has mixed emotions.
MSG Mixed: Q:”…I really do.” :22
The game is scheduled to start at 10:00 p.m., with a traditional break at midnight to sing the Alaska Flag Song. The game often lasts until 2:00 a.m. and stadium lights are not used.