Wrigley Field chosen to host 2027
All-Star Game. Manfred downplays spat with Phillies' Harper
[August 02, 2025]
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
CHICAGO (AP) — The Friendly Confines are set to host The Midsummer
Classic.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made it official, announcing
during a news conference Friday at home plate that the 2027 All-Star
Game will be held at Wrigley Field.
Baseball's second-oldest ballpark hasn't hosted an All-Star Game
since 1990. Chicago Cubs great Ryne Sandberg — who died Monday of
cancer — won the Home Run Derby that year. Wrigley also hosted
All-Star Games in 1947 and 1962.
Manfred, who was joined by Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, Illinois Gov.
JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, cited the “amazing
transformation” of the ballpark and surrounding streets in the past
decade as part of a massive renovation by the Ricketts family.
The Cubs first approached the league about hosting an All-Star Game
eight years ago. But for a variety of reasons, including competition
from other cities and safety concerns with the ballpark in a
bustling neighborhood, they weren't awarded one until now. Chicago
cleared a big hurdle in June, when the city passed an ordinance
allowing sidewalks along Addison Street to be widened and removable
bollards to be installed around the ballpark.
“I think we're probably overdue in terms of being at Wrigley,”
Manfred said. “The Ricketts family, city of Chicago and state of
Illinois made a tremendous investment not just in the ballpark but
the area around it. I think it'll be a fantastic venue for our
All-Star celebration.”
Wrigley Field is set to join Cleveland's Municipal Stadium and the
old Yankee Stadium as the only ballparks to host four All-Star
Games. The city of Chicago will host the event for the eighth time,
second only to New York with nine.
Pritzker, a Cubs fan, called Wrigley Field “the perfect place to
host the All-Star Game.”
“For over 100 years, this has been the beating heart of the baseball
world and a shining emblem of our nation's favorite pastime,” he
said. “There's no place like it.”
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MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announces that Wrigley Field will host
the 2027 All-Star Game as Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts looks
on during a baseball news conference Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in
Chicago. (AP Photo/Andrew Seligman)
Ricketts lived in the neighborhood the last time
the Cubs hosted the All-Star Game. But he wasn't able to attend.
“I didn't have dough,” he said.
Ricketts figures to have an up-close view this time, assuming the
game is played as scheduled. There is some doubt with baseball's
collective bargaining agreement set to expire following the 2026
season, though Manfred expressed confidence the owners and players
will avoid a lengthy work stoppage.
Asked about a potential contingency plan if there is a strike or
lockout, he said: “My contingency plan is to make an agreement with
the players and play the 2027 season.”
Manfred and Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper had a spirited
exchange last week during a question-and-answer session between the
commissioner and the team. In that meeting, Manfred spoke about the
media landscape and working together to grow the sport, according to
a person with knowledge of the conversation. At some point, Harper
told Manfred if he was there to talk about a salary cap, he could
“get the (expletive) out” of the clubhouse.
“I think more has been made out of this than needs to be made out of
it,” Manfred said Friday. “Bryce expressed his views. At the end of
the meeting, we shook hands and went our separate ways. Not all that
significant.”
Philadelphia hosts the 2026 All-Star Game.
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