Two years after Atlanta lost the Major League Baseball All-Star game over backlash to Georgia's controversial voting law changes, the city is now getting the Midsummer Classic back.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced Thursday that the league has awarded the 2025 All-Star Game and all accompanying events to the Atlanta Braves. This marks the third time that Atlanta will host the event but it will be the first at Truist Park, which has been the Braves' home since 2017.
"As a model of success on and off the field, the Braves deserve to host the All-Star Game," Manfred said in a statement. "Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta [entertainment district] will provide fans a world-class experience in 2025. We look forward to working with the Braves and local leaders to deliver a memorable All-Star Week that brings people together and benefits the community in many ways."
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The 2021 MLB All-Star game was originally supposed to be hosted by Atlanta but was later moved to the home of the Colorado Rockies after critics complained that Georgia's voting law changes were too restrictive. Manfred said he made the decision to move the event after meeting with members of the Players Alliance, which was formed by Black ballplayers following the death of George Floyd one year earlier. Some estimates claim that decision likely cost the city of Atlanta upwards of $100 million.
It's worth noting that Georgia's voting law still remains in place to this day, something Republican Gov. Brian Kemp pointed out in a post on social media.
"Georgia's voting laws haven't changed, but it's good to see the MLB's misguided understanding of them has," he said. "We look forward to welcoming the All-Star Game to Georgia. Go Braves!"
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