A general overall view of FirstEnergy Stadium. The stadium is the home of the Cleveland Browns. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Midges invade FirstEnergy Stadium before Chargers-Browns game

By Dan Treacy | Last updated 10/9/22

Midges, harmless mosquito-like insects that emerge from Lake Erie each October, invaded FirstEnergy Stadium before the Browns hosted the Chargers on Sunday afternoon.

Photos showed the insects landing on seats and sticking to the windows of the press box leading up to the game. One Chargers player told AP reporter Tom Withers that the swarm was "terrible" during warmups.

Not easy to see here, but there are hundreds of midges sticking to the press box window #Browns pic.twitter.com/ku2c2udZO5
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) October 9, 2022

The swarm might evoke memories for baseball fans, as midges caused a delay during Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS between Cleveland and the Yankees. Then-Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain was visibly affected by the insects and ultimately allowed the game-tying run in a game New York would later lose.

Chamberlain had some fun talking about the swarm on Twitter, saying, "Damn those things! Go away!!"

Fortunately for the Chargers and Browns, the midges haven't had a noticeable impact on the game. The Yankees and Guardians, however, are set to play at least one ALDS game in Cleveland next weekend. Will the midges stick around long enough to wreak havoc?

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