As MLB plays on, the businesses it feeds fight for survival

Patrons at the Big Star Wrigleyville restaurant Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, are seated in a social distant manner on West Patterson Ave., across from Wrigley Field during a baseball game between the Cubs and St Louis Cardinals in Chicago. The pandemic has been especially hard on businesses that rely on ballpark traffic, eliminating crowds at major league games, and leading to rules that limit the amount of people they can have inside their doors at the same time. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

The Wrigley Field marquee is reflected Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in the window of the Sports World apparel store in the Wrigleyville neighborhood of Chicago. The coronavirus pandemic has been especially hard on businesses that rely on ballpark traffic, eliminating crowds at major league games, and leading to rules that limit the amount of people they can have inside their doors at the same time. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Patrons at Sluggers World Class Sports Bar Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, are reminded to wear a mask right along with the sports news of the day in the Wrigleyville neighborhood of Chicago. "We have no choice but to make it through this," said Zach Strauss, who runs Sluggers with his brothers David and Ari after their father, Steve, opened the bar in 1985.(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

FILE - In this April 20, 2015 file photo, vendors hawk sausages outside Fenway Park before a baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles in Boston. Ballpark area businesses are struggling during the 2020 season while fans are not in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

Patrick McCarron, just one of a handful of baseball fans, raises his Chicago Cubs cap from a rooftop venue Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, toward Wrigley Field after the national anthem before a baseball game between the Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals in Chicago. The coronavirus pandemic has been especially hard on businesses that rely on ballpark traffic, eliminating crowds at major league games, and leading to rules that limit the amount of people they can have inside their doors at the same time. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Joe Bastone, owner of Yankee Tavern, responds to questions during an interview Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Pedestrians pass the Yankee Tavern, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in New York. The tavern has been in business since 1927. The coronavirus pandemic has been especially hard on businesses that rely on ballpark traffic, eliminating crowds at major league games, and leading to rules that limit the amount of people they can have inside their doors at the same time. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2013, file photo, Tim Lampa hawks programs and Boston Red Sox pennants outside Fenway Park before Game 6 of the American League baseball championship series between the Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers in Boston. Ballpark area businesses are struggling during the 2020 season while fans are not in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

Pedestrians pass patrons sitting outside at Yankee Tavern before the Boston Red Sox played the New York Yankees on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in New York. The coronavirus pandemic has been especially hard on businesses that rely on ballpark traffic, eliminating crowds at major league games, and leading to rules that limit the amount of people they can have inside their doors at the same time. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Patrick McCarron wears a Chicago Cubs cap and protective mask Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, as he heads to a rooftop venue to watch the Cubs host the rival St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Cubs averaged 38,208 fans for their 81 home dates in 2019, trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cardinals and Yankees. Now those crowds are gone. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

A lone cyclist Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, rides past Guthrie's Tavern, a popular Wrigleyville spot known for its board games. Guthrie's closed in July on the same day the city announced it was once again suspending indoor services for bars. With no outdoor seating, Guthrie's ownership said in a Facebook post they didn't see a way they could survive in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Patrons occupy the window table Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, at the Nisei Lounge, as the rest of the bar area is tapped off at the Wrigleyville neighborhood establishment in Chicago. The coronavirus pandemic has been especially hard on businesses that rely on ballpark traffic, eliminating crowds at major league games, and leading to rules that limit the amount of people they can have inside their doors at the same time. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

FILE - In this April 4, 2014 file photo, fans enjoy pre-game festivities outside Fenway Park in Boston. Ballpark area businesses are struggling during the 2020 season while fans are not in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

A Chicago Transit Authority train passes overhead of diners at the Houndstooth Saloon near Wrigley Field in Chicago, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. The coronavirus pandemic has been especially hard on businesses that rely on ballpark traffic, eliminating crowds at major league games, and leading to rules that limit the amount of people they can have inside their doors at the same time. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Mike Miller, owner of Wilbert's Food & Music, poses in front of the restaurant before a baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Cleveland. The coronavirus pandemic has been especially hard on businesses that rely on ballpark traffic, eliminating crowds at major league games, and leading to rules that limit the amount of people they can have inside their doors at the same time. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Mike Miller, owner of Wilbert's Food & Music, poses in an almost empty restaurant before a baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Cleveland. The coronavirus pandemic has been especially hard on businesses that rely on ballpark traffic, eliminating crowds at major league games, and leading to rules that limit the amount of people they can have inside their doors at the same time.(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

A parking lot attendant sits alone Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in an empty lot near Wrigley Field in Chicago. The coronavirus pandemic has been especially hard on businesses that rely on ballpark traffic, eliminating crowds at major league games, and leading to rules that limit the amount of people they can have inside their doors at the same time. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

FILE - In this Sept, 9, 2020, file photo, a couple walk past Mike's Beer Bar, across the street from PNC Park, after a baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh. Small businesses around PNC Park and other downtown stadiums across Major League Baseball are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced MLB to ban fans from attending games during the truncated 2020 seasons. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Pedestrian traffic at the intersection of Clark & Addison in front of the Cubbie Bear sports bar and across the street from Wrigley Field, is almost non existent before a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds in Chicago. The pandemic has been especially hard on businesses that rely on ballpark traffic, eliminating crowds at major league games, and leading to rules that limit the amount of people they can have inside their doors at the same time. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

FILE - In this Oct. 29, 2007, file photo, a woman holds up a new Boston Red Sox 2007 World Series Champions tee-shirt at a souvenir shop near Fenway Park in Boston. Ballpark area businesses are struggling during the 2020 season while fans are not in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

Workers at the Yankee Tavern prepare for patrons seated outside, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in New York. The patio seating has proved popular -- including with Yankee Stadium employees ducking out for lunch -- and the Tavern has salvaged some business via takeout and delivery. Still, owner Joe Bastone said he owes over $150,000 in rent, has already burned through his $31,000 in Paycheck Protection Program loans and been forced to reduce his staff by half to seven. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Joe Bastone, owner of Yankee Tavern, sits in an empty dining room before the Boston Red Sox played the New York Yankees on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in New York. The coronavirus pandemic has been especially hard on businesses that rely on ballpark traffic, eliminating crowds at major league games, and leading to rules that limit the amount of people they can have inside their doors at the same time. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Joe Bastone, owner of Yankee Tavern, responds to questions during an interview Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in New York. Bastone is expecting to lose about $500,000 in revenue this season -- losses unlike anything the 93-year-old bar has previously survived. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Pat Odon, the director of beer and baseball operations for Nisei Lounge poses for a portrait Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, at the Wrigleyville neighborhood bar in Chicago. The coronavirus pandemic has been especially hard on businesses that rely on ballpark traffic, eliminating crowds at major league games, and leading to rules that limit the amount of people they can have inside their doors at the same time. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Zach Strauss poses at Sluggers World Class Sports Bar Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in the Wrigleyville neighborhood of Chicago. The coronavirus pandemic has been especially hard on businesses that rely on ballpark traffic, eliminating crowds at major league games, and leading to rules that limit the amount of people they can have inside their doors at the same time. "We have no choice but to make it through this," said Strauss, who runs Sluggers with his brothers David and Ari after their father, Steve, opened the bar in 1985. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)