Tarps Off trend sweeps baseball world : NPR
NPR • • sports
Key Points:
- A new "Tarps Off" trend, involving mostly young men removing their shirts and twirling them at MLB games, has rapidly spread across multiple ballparks, injecting energy and creating a lively atmosphere.
- The movement began in St. Louis last Friday when a club baseball team sparked the shirtless celebrations, which helped energize the crowd and was embraced by players and the Cardinals' manager.
- The trend has appeared in cities including Detroit, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Anaheim, with fans and even mascots joining in, contributing to a more vibrant, college-like atmosphere at games.
- Attendance at MLB games is up this season, averaging about 1,000 more fans per game than last year, and the shirtless fan phenomenon may help baseball reach an average of 30,000 fans per game for the first time since 2016.
- Overall, the "Tarps Off" trend is seen as a positive development that boosts fan engagement and homefield advantage while adding a fresh, energetic vibe to the sport.