Miami Marlins, MLB make 2017 All-Star Game official
Friday afternoon, the Miami Marlins held a special press conference at Marlins Park. As expected, the ordeal was the official announcement for the location of the 2017 MLB All-Star Game, which we learned earlier this week will be coming to Miami for the first time.
The Marlins have recently had a knack for flashy press conferences. A couple weeks ago, the Marlins brass flew out to Japan to formally announce the Ichiro Suzuki signing. Back in November, the entire baseball world watched as Miami introduced Giancarlo Stanton as the soon-to-be richest player in baseball history.
Today, even Florida Governor Rick Scott was present at Marlins Park:
Speakers at the presser included Scott, new MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, Hall of Fame Marlins and Expos radio announcer Dave Van Horne, and Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria. There was even a singing of the National Anthem, because, why not?
The 2017 MLB All-Star Game will take place on July 11 at Marlins Park. It will mark the third consecutive season the All-Star Game will be held at a National League park. This year’s game will be contested at Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark, and the 2016 edition will be at San Diego’s Petco Park. The same league has never hosted three straight midsummer classics before.
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Marlins Park has already hosted plenty of special events in its short three year existence. It hosted a round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic, in addition to international soccer matches and high school and college baseball games. This past December also saw the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl, where the University of Memphis defeated the BYU Cougars in a double-overtime thriller.
Friday’s press conference puts a shiny bow on an outstanding winter for the Marlins. Remember when, just two years ago, the team was the laughing stock of baseball and saw nothing but ridicule for gutting the roster? Now, Miami has signed one of baseball’s superstars to the richest and longest contract in American sports history, added quality big league players to its roster, and looks to be competitive for at least the next few seasons. And as a result, Miami has finally earned its first MLB All-Star Game.
What a great time to be a Marlins fan.