A foreign tourist who attended a match of the 65th National Baseball Series at the Latinoamericano Stadium in Havana published images and a narrative that starkly depict the decline of Cuba's national pastime, according to a chronicle published by Infobae on Friday.
The visitor paid 20 Cuban pesos for their ticket—less than ten cents in dollars at the informal exchange rate, which hovers around 935 CUP per dollar—and found a venue with a capacity of 55,000 people, mostly empty stands, visibly worn structures, and a limited food offering reduced to bread with pork seasoned with vinegar.
"The show left a long time ago," the tourist summarized while observing the empty seats.
The paradox is eloquent: the cheapest ticket in the world is not enough to fill the stadium.
The symbolic price of the ticket does not eliminate the real cost of attending. For a Cuban who devotes a significant part of their day to sourcing food, dealing with power outages of over 20 hours, or searching for transportation, spending several hours under the sun in a stadium becomes an inaccessible luxury.
The average state salary in Cuba barely exceeds 7,354 Cuban pesos per month —approximately eight dollars at the informal exchange rate— while a basic grocery purchase can exceed 8,500 CUP, which is more than an entire monthly salary.
The exodus of baseball players exacerbates fan disaffection. More than 40 Cuban players signed contracts with Major League organizations during the 2025-2026 international period alone, and it is estimated that over 1,000 athletes have left the island in the last decade, including at least 700 young players with potential.
This constant brain drain breaks the bond between the audience and the teams: following a prospect means accepting that their stay will be short-lived, which undermines the development of idols and figures that for decades fueled the passion for baseball.
The systemic crisis is also impacting the organization of the tournament itself. The 65th National Series, which started on October 4, was shortened from 75 to 44 games per team, and the 16 teams were divided into geographical zones to reduce fuel consumption. The youth championships for Sub-12, Sub-15, and Sub-18 were directly canceled due to the energy crisis.
Deterioration reaches even the playing field. On October 31, a match between Matanzas and Mayabeque was suspended because the visiting players had no water to drink, bathe, or cook in their accommodation.
The Latinoamericano — inaugurated in 1946 and expanded to its current 55,000 seats — was for decades the heart of Cuban baseball, a gathering place where interprovincial rivalries filled every corner of the blue stands.
In July 2023, the farewell tribute to the baseball player Alexander Malleta drew approximately 20,000 people, just 36% of the venue's capacity, and it was noted as the largest attendance recorded that year.
The tourist concluded his story with a phrase that encapsulates something more than just a sporting experience: "Welcome to the cheapest funeral in the world."
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