MLB cancels Opening Day, sides fail to reach lockout deal

JUPITER, Fla. (AP/CBS 58) — Major League Baseball has canceled Opening Day, with Commissioner Rob Manfred announcing Tuesday the sport will lose regular-season games over a labor dispute for the first time in 27 years after acrimonious lockout talks collapsed in the hours before management's deadline.

Manfred said he is canceling the first two series of the season that was set to begin March 31, dropping the schedule from 162 games to likely 156 games at most.

After the sides made progress during 13 negotiating sessions over 16 1/2 hours Monday, the league sent the players' association a "best and final offer" Tuesday on the ninth straight day of negotiations.

The cancellation of the first week means that the Milwaukee Brewers will lose six home games, three against the Arizona Diamondbacks and three against the San Francisco Giants. 

Fans at American Family Field buying tickets for the upcoming season were disappointed to hear that the two sides couldn't come to an agreement to start the season on time.

"Opening Day. That's like a holiday in Milwaukee," said Leah Gustafson, who had this message for the owners and the players. "Just compromise. It's what life's all about. Come on! We're the ones that aren't the millionaires and billionaires. We're the ones tailgating. We're the ones buying the tickets. We're the ones trying to bring up another generation loving this game."

Negotiations between the two sides are set to continue in New York.