Orioles Program Takes A Swing At Hosting All-Star Game

Baltimore MD

05 April, 2021

3:49 PM

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BALTIMORE, MD — Orioles officials confirmed Monday that the program has expressed interest in hosting the All-Star Game in Baltimore after Major League Baseball decided to pull the game out of Atlanta, Georgia. The game potentially could be held at Camden Yards in the future if another city is chosen for this year, Jennifer Grondahl, an Orioles spokeswoman and senior vice president, told The Baltimore Sun. MLB official pulled this year's game from the Atlanta Braves' ballpark in Georgia after state legislators passed laws some say are designed to suppress votes in elections. Georgia's new election law, which limits the use of ballot drop boxes and bans volunteers from handing out food and water to residents waiting in line to vote, has sparked national controversy. President Joe Biden called the law "Jim Crow in the 21st Century" and "an atrocity," saying the U.S. Justice Department is "taking a look" at the 92-page reform bill. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Orioles chairman and CEO John Angelos expressed their support for the MLB's decision in a joint statement. "As the birthplace of civil rights icon Thurgood Marshall, we stand united with Commissioner Manfred in denouncing this malicious legislative effort to suppress voters in Georgia and other state legislatures," the Baltimore leaders said. "Baseball is our national pastime and preserving the right to vote is a pillar of our American democracy. The City of Baltimore and the Birds of Baltimore applaud MLB's patriotism in supporting voting rights, and we encourage everyone to use this moment to fight for fair elections and register eligible Americans to vote and make their voices heard," the statement said. Major League Baseball estimates the 2021 All-Star Game will generate anywhere from $37 million to $190 million in economic impact. The 2019 All-Star Game in Cleveland brought roughly $65 million to the region's economy. Patch Editor Deb Belt contributed to this article.