MIAMI (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made it official Friday — the Miami Marlins will host the 2017 All-Star Game.
Manfred’s announcement came at a news conference at Marlins Park. Among those attending were Gov. Rick Scott, team owner Jeffrey Loria and a handful of current and former players who have been All-Stars, including Giancarlo Stanton, Jose Fernandez and Gary Sheffield.
“It’s great to have an All-Star Game here,” Scott said. With a smile he added, “I hope we have them every year now.”
The event on the left-field plaza overlooking downtown and the sunsplashed field included a color guard and performance of the national anthem. The occasion had a celebratory tone because it was a long time coming.
The Marlins started play in 1993 and two years later were awarded the 2000 All-Star Game at Pro Player Stadium. After founding owner Wayne Huizenga dismantled the roster of at team’s 1997 World Series champions, Major League Baseball took away the game in 1998 and awarded it to Atlanta’s Turner Field.
The All-Star Game will be played in Cincinnati this year and in San Diego in 2016, meaning a National League team will host the game in three consecutive seasons. To help compensate, the American League will bat last in the 2016 game, Manfred said.
“We have made a concerted effort to reward the most deserving cities that present the best bids, and that’s why Miami got this game,” Manfred said. “It happens that in recent history we have received great bids from National League clubs who have ballparks who have never hosted an All-Star Game. That’s why we made the decision we made.”
The MLB All-Star FanFest will be held at Miami Beach’s new convention center now under construction.
Marlins Park opened in 2012, and the team is up the upswing following a busy offseason. The Marlins signed NL home run champion Stanton to a record $325 million, 13-year contract and are widely expected to contend for their first playoff berth since 2003.
Scott has taken an interest — he visited privately before the news conference with Stanton and Fernandez.
“The future is bright for Miami and its baseball fans,” Loria said.
Four current ballparks have yet to be assigned an All-Star Game — the homes of the Yankees, Phillies, Nationals and Rays. The Braves plan to move into a new ballpark in 2017.
Others attending the news conference included Jack McKeon, who managed the NL All-Star team in 2004; Marlins executive Jeff Conine, the All-Star MVP in 1995; former players Mike Lowell, Alex Gonalez, Charles Johnson and Luis Castillo; and the mayors of Miami, Miami-Dade County and Miami Beach.
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