MLB Returns to London in 2023, 2024 and 2026
The new effort will also feature a Home Run Derby X event in July
Posted On: May 9, 2022 By :Major League Baseball has announced a long-term strategic partnership with the city of London that includes the league’s commitment to hold major events in the city over the next five years. The deal includes regular-season games in 2023, 2024 and 2026.
The league has also announced the formation of the MLB London Legacy Group, which will include members from the Greater London Authority, Baseball Softball UK and other key stakeholders in the UK. The group will establish a long-term legacy program to maximize the impact of hosting MLB regular season games in London.
The announcement was made between MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and London Mayor Sadiq Khan and came during Khan’s four-day visit to the United States to support London’s economic recovery from the pandemic and promote the capital to international visitors and business.
“Today is an historic day for London and baseball,” Khan said. “I want to continue attracting world-class sport to our city as part of my mission to make London the sporting capital of the world. This long-term partnership with Major League Baseball is ambitious and includes regular season games as well as a legacy program designed to grow the number of Londoners watching and playing baseball at a grassroots level in London. These games will be a fantastic opportunity to once again showcase the London Stadium as a multi-use venue and a fantastic asset for the capital.”
London hosted Major League Baseball games for the first time in June 2019 when the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox met in the inaugural MLB London Series. The two-games series at London Stadium marked the first regular-season games played in Europe.
“All aspects of the inaugural MLB games in London were an overwhelming success,” said Manfred. “It was clear that sports fans in London had a great appetite for baseball and that passion was shared by Mayor Khan as well as the business and media community. We are confident in making a long-term commitment to London and are looking forward to returning to the city with more MLB games, special fan events, and other opportunities to play and watch the game.”
MLB Europe will continue to conduct new London-based fan engagement events, expanded UK-focused content, baseball participation programs, and other city-specific media arrangements to continue the growth of the game. That effort will include Home Run Derby X, a new baseball format that will take place in London’s Crystal Palace Park on July 9, 2022.
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