The 2021 MLB All-Star Game is arriving in Colorado, a league source confirmed Monday night.
A few days after Major League Baseball decided to move the game out of Atlanta, the source said the MLB should officially announce on Tuesday morning that the July 13 game will be moved to Coors Field in Denver.
“We are excited about the possibility of hosting the All-Star Game and look forward to the MLB decision,” said Denver Mayor Michael Hancock in a statement released to The Denver Post on Monday night.
Governor Jared Polis echoed Hancock’s hopeful statements when contacted by The Post.
“Like so many coloradans, I am excited and hopeful that Major League Baseball will make the best decision and formally choose to play the 2021 All-Star Game in Denver,” said Polis in a statement. “It would be good for baseball and good for Colorado.”
It is not known, at this point, how many fans could watch the All-Star Game. Currently, the Rockies are allowing 42.6% of Coors Field’s normal capacity of 50,144 fans at the stadium due to the coronavirus. Colorado state officials said they hope to hand over decision-making on most of the public health restrictions for COVID-19 to local authorities in mid-April – well before the All-Star Game takes place in July.
The possibility of the All-Star Game’s return to Colorado emerged on Friday, when the MLB announced its intention to change the game in response to a new Georgia voting law that raised concerns among civilian groups that it would restrict access to voting. for people of color. The MLB draft 2021, a new addition to the All-Star Game festivities this year, has also been moved from Atlanta.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement at the time that his decision to transfer the Atlanta game was made after discussions with individual players from the major leagues and also with the Players Alliance, a black players organization formed after George Floyd’s death last year. in Minnesota.
Manfred said his decision was “the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport”.
Following Manfred’s decision, the Atlanta Braves issued a statement.
“The Atlanta Braves are deeply disappointed by Major League Baseball’s decision to change their 2021 All-Star Game.
“This was not our decision, nor our recommendation and we are sad that fans will not be able to see this event in our city. The Braves organization will continue to emphasize the importance of equal voting opportunities and we hoped that our city could use this event as a platform to improve the discussion. Our city has always been known as a union in divided times and we will miss the opportunity to address issues that are important to our community.
“Unfortunately, companies, employees and fans in Georgia are the victims of this decision. We will continue to support community legacy projects that have been planned and are in progress ”.
The Rockies were candidates to host the 2022 All-Star Game before the Los Angeles Dodgers won. Last spring, Major League Baseball officials visited Denver several times. The other candidates to host the 2022 Midsummer Classic were the Texas Rangers and the Chicago Cubs.
Denver last hosted the All-Star Game on July 7, 1998, in the fourth year of Coors Field’s existence. A sold-out crowd of 51,231 saw the American League win the National League 13-8.
Ken Griffey Jr. of Seattle, elected to the All-Star Game with the most votes from fans, won a memorable Home Run Derby on the eve of the All-Star Game. He hit 19 homers in total, three in the final round to defeat Cleveland’s Jim Thome.
Senior policy editor Erica Hunzinger and The Associated Press contributed to this story.