Chris Lebens, a clinical assistant professor in sport management, will speak in the third Sport Management Research Meeting of the Spring 2018 semester. His presentation, “Foul Ball: Spectators Distracted from Their Own Safety in Ballparks,” will occur 5-6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7, in Cleveland Hall 255 in Pullman.
The “Baseball Rule” restricts tort liability of stadium owners with regard to spectators’ injury from objects inherent to the game. This doctrine of law has existed since 1926, a time when an outing to the ballpark meant donning one’s Sunday best and paying close attention to the action on the field. As we move into the digital age, fans are invited to the stadium not only to watch a professional sporting event, but to take part in a digital experience that provides countless opportunities for distraction. This research considers the question of whether the Baseball Rule should still apply to the sport today and proposes a change in legal doctrine to keep pace with societal advancements.
Sport Management Research Meetings are organized by the Sport Management program at Washington State University. They occur monthly and feature faculty and student presentations of ongoing and completed research projects. Students and faculty from all programs are welcome to attend.
The last such meeting this semester will occur on April 11, when first-year graduate students will present their research ideas in a graduate student symposium.
Those who miss the presentations but are interested in the topic can access the video archive of past presentations.
