According to the Miami Herald, the Miami Marlins have been awarded the 2017 Major League Baseball All-Star game, the 88th edition overall and first for the state of Florida. 2017 will mark the third consecutive year a National League-based venue will hold All-Star festivities. Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati will be the host this season, followed by Petco Park in San Diego for 2016.
The Marlins have long fought for the Midsummer Classic to be played at one of their stadiums. They were reportedly granted the 2000 game to be played at Pro Player Stadium (currently Sun Life Stadium of the Miami Dolphins), only to have it 'yanked away and handed to Atlanta following the dismantling of the 1997 World Series team', according to the Herald.
13 years later, the Marlins tried again. They placed a bid to host in 2015 with the argument of wanting to showcase the newly-constructed Marlins Park. They again failed, as then-commissioner Bud Selig announced the Reds as the winning host on January 21, 2013.
2017 will finally be the year for the Miami-based franchise, which will enter its 23rd season as their pitchers and catchers report on February 20th. This will leave new Yankee Stadium, Tropicana Field, Nationals Park, and Citizens Bank Park as the only current stadiums yet to host an All-Star Game.
Do not expect the Phillies to place a bid to host the All-Star Game until the 97th edition in 2026, which will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the 13 colonies cutting ties from Britain. Citizens Bank Park will be a little over 22 years old then, as it debuted in April of 2004.
Veterans Stadium, which opened in 1971, hosted its first All-Star Game in 1976, the 200th anniversary of the United States of America's formation. Twenty years later in 1996 was the last time Philadelphia hosted the event, which resulted in a 6-0 victory for the National League.
Commissioner Rob Manfred has made it public his desire to create a bidding system, similar to the Super Bowl, for cities that wish to host an All-Star Game. Bud Selig has reportedly made 'promises to a number of teams' to host the event, however, which more than likely will be granted by Manfred before implementing his new system. The Phillies are surely of these teams promised to host the event in the near future, in their case, 2026.
An official announcement from the Marlins and commissioner Manfred about the 2017 selection is expected later this week.
Matt Rappa (@mattrappa) is a contributor to Philliedelphia.com.
