The “Wave,” which became popular in the last of the 20^th Century, was a form of cheering at major sporting events that apparently had nothing to do with the action on the field.  In the Wave, fans would leap to their feet, briefly cheer, and then quickly sit back down, causing a ripple effect that traveled around the stadium.

Though banning the Wave had been discussed throughout the early 21^st Century, mostly because it was just annoying, the debate was brought to the forefront following the July 13^th, 2018, ballgame between the Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals at Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City, where a Wave that started in the 6^th inning continued uninterrupted well beyond the end of the game.  Said one fan, “How do you stop a thing like that?  When it comes at ya, ya gotta stand.  Did anybody catch the final score?”

It was an incident at Seattle’s Safeco Field in April of the following season, though, that caused the Wave to be banned at all sporting events throughout the country.  Instead of going either left or right, a Wave that was started in the centerfield bleachers went both directions, each side building up momentum before colliding behind home plate.  Seven fans were killed, and over 400 people were injured, some seriously, with well over 150 people requiring hospitalization.  Even more tragic, Seattle was forced to forfeit the game.