San Diego Awarded 2016 MLB All-Star Game
Posted On: January 15, 2015 By :Major League Baseball has awarded the 2016 All-Star Game to San Diego. The game will mark the city’s third time hosting, but the first at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium was the site of the previous events in 1978 and 1992. Petco Park opened in 2004.
The decision to select San Diego means the Midsummer Classic will be staged in a National League ballpark for two consecutive years as Cincinnati will host the 2015 event. That has not occurred since 2006–2007, when Pittsburgh and San Francisco hosted. MLB said it received “a number of outstanding bids” for the 2016 game, including several from new ballparks that have yet to host, and decided to break from the typical American League–National League rotation to award the game to the city with the most competitive bid regardless of league affiliation.
“I am very pleased to award the 2016 All-Star Game to the San Diego Padres, who made a detailed and comprehensive bid in conjunction with city officials,” MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said. “San Diego is one of America’s most beautiful cities and showcasing Petco Park in its thriving downtown will be a remarkable opportunity for the Padres franchise and all of Major League Baseball.”
Padres Executive Chairman Ron Fowler said, “The San Diego Padres are honored to host Major League Baseball’s 2016 All-Star Game at Petco Park. Padres fans have been awaiting the return of the Midsummer Classic for more than two decades. We thank Commissioner Selig, Commissioner-Elect Rob Manfred and all of Major League Baseball for selecting ‘America’s Finest City.’”
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