ACT OF GOD
MLB team forced to make major schedule change to opener due to event which won’t happen again until 2444
The event last occurred in 1806
THE CLEVELAND GUARDIANS have been forced to change the start time of their season opener next month - due to a solar eclipse.
The Guardians' first game at Progressive Field against the Chicago White Sox will get started at 5:10pm EST April 8 to allow viewers to observe the once-in-a-lifetime event.
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The total solar eclipse, which hasn't happened in Northeastern Ohio since 1806 won't happen again until 2444.
The ballpark's gates will open at 2pm to give Guardians fans a chance to observe the eclipse, which will peak at 3:13pm - with the height of the eclipse lasting four minutes.
The Guardians traditionally start their opener at 4:10pm, but pushed back their start time after consulting with Cleveland city officials.
Local government expect the city's downtown to be packed with visitors observing the rare eclipse.
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The team urges fans to make plans accordingly and use public transport where possible.
It's estimated that 200,000 revellers will visit the Cleveland area to observe the event.
The City of Light is one of the few major cities in North America in the path of totality as it falls in a 100-mile track of the moon's shadow.
The majority of schools in the area will be closed for the day to mark the event.
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Some opportunistic residents in the city's western suburbs will be renting their homes out to eclipse fans from around the world.
Eclipse revellers are strongly advised to buy specialist eye protection to watch the event safely.
Visitors flock to annual solar eclipse at Great Basin National Park in Baker, Nevada to get a glimpse of rare event
Doing so without specialist eclipse sunglasses can result in a burning of the retinas and can result in permanent vision loss.