UPDATE: April 5 — MLB is expected to relocate the 2021 All-Star Game to Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported on Monday night. Coors Field is home to the Colorado Rockies and is notoriously known for being a launching pad in the high altitude. The last time the Rockies hosted the All-Star Game was back in 1998.
Major League Baseball is moving the 2021 MLB All-Star Game out of Atlanta following the passing of a bill that limits voting rights in the state. The League had been mulling the decision to move the All-Star Game, as it opposes restrictions on voter rights in elections that was imposed by new legislation. Here’s a full statement released by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred:
“Over the last week, we have engaged in thoughtful conversations with Clubs, former and current players, the Players Association, and The Players Alliance, among others, to listen to their views. I have decided that the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year’s All-Star Game and MLB Draft.
“Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box. In 2020, MLB became the first professional sports league to join the non-partisan Civic Alliance to help build a future in which everyone participates in shaping the United States. We proudly used our platform to encourage baseball fans and communities throughout our country to perform their civic duty and actively participate in the voting process. Fair access to voting continues to have our game’s unwavering support.
“We will continue with our plans to celebrate the memory of Hank Aaron during this season’s All-Star festivities. In addition, MLB’s planned investments to support local communities in Atlanta as part of our All- Star Legacy Projects will move forward. We are finalizing a new host city and details about these events will be announced shortly.”
Georgia lawmakers passed a bill that essentially overhauls how state elections are run, adding new guidelines for mail-in ballots and voter registration. It gives state officials more authority in how elections are operated within the state. So basically it’s a bill that could act as a form of voter suppression, which has been heavily opposed around the United States.
The All-Star Game was set for July 13 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, home of the Atlanta Braves. Instead, the game will be moved, though a new location has not yet been chosen. It will be interesting to see where the game ends up being played. The last ASG location was Cleveland, Ohio. Next year, the location is in Los Angeles at Dodgers Stadium.
A few locations that may make sense. Fenway Park in Boston hasn’t hosted All-Star Weekend since 1999. The New York Yankees haven’t hosted the Midsummer Classic since 2008, which took place in the old Yankee Stadium, not the new building, which was opened up at the beginning of the 2009 season. It’s also been a while since Denver and Coors Field hosted the All-Star Game (1998). Other cities include Philadelphia and Seattle, both of which haven’t had the All-Star Game in about two decades.