Wrigley Field Among Leading Candidates to Host 2025 All-Star Game
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced Thursday that Globe Life Field in Arlington will play host to the 2024 All-Star Game, which is weird because he didn’t say Wrigley Field. The Cubs haven’t hosted the Midsummer Classic since 1990 and they’ve been stumping for its return over the last several seasons as extensive renovations have updated the venerable ballpark to an almost alarming degree.
“It makes sense the Cubs get an opportunity ahead after the new renovations are complete,” Manfred said way back in 2016. “This will provide the Cubs and Ricketts family a chance to showcase the unbelievable renovation they are in the midst of doing for Wrigley field.”
At the time of that quote, there was hope that Wrigley might secure a bid for the ASG by 2019. Yeah, about that. Philadelphia has already been determined as the host for the 2026 exhibition due to the patriotic tie-ins with the nation’s semiquincentennial that summer. And because I know someone will have forgotten, DC hosted in 2018.
2023 All-Star Game: Seattle
2024 All-Star Game: Arlington, Texas
2025 All-Star Game: undecided (Toronto, Baltimore, Atlanta, Chicago Cubs are leading candidates)
2026: Philadelphia— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) November 17, 2022
There’s still an open slot for 2025 and the Cubs are among the leading candidates to get the nod. Toronto, Baltimore, and Atlanta — which lost the 2021 game as a result of Georgia passing a highly controversial voting-rights law — are also in the mix, so it’s not at all a sure bet to return to Chicago. There sure will be a lot of betting if the Cubs get the All-Star Game, however, as the new sportsbook will be up and running by next year.
Assuming, that is, the gaming industry doesn’t go the way of crypto and necessitate a shift in focus for the gaudy new addition to Wrigley’s Addison St. façade.
