If you were holding out hope for a 2018 All-Star Game at Wrigley Field, you may have to wait a bit longer.
Major League Baseball has announced that the 2018 All-Star game will be held in the nation’s capital at National’s Park. Due to the timing of the renovation though, 2018 wasn’t likely to be an ideal year for All-Star Game at Wrigley anyway. That will be year four of the 1060 Project, but it has become clear in recent months that the project may take the full five years that were originally estimated.
After being held at an AL park in 2014 (Target Field), the MLB All-Star game is going to make four straight stops in the National League. In 2015, the game will be in Cincinnati, followed by San Diego in 2016, Miami in 2017, and Washington, D.C. in 2018.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred indicated that he was not likely to just alternate between the National and American Leagues as had been done in the past, but it seems likely that the 2019 All-Star Game is finally headed back to an American League park.
So when can expect the next All-Star Game at Wrigley Field?
I’d say your early guess is 2020 – exactly 30 years since the Cubs last hosted it in 1990. By then, the full Wrigley Field renovation and area development should be complete, and the event might make for a nice “official” unveiling. I’m not really bummed that we’ll have to wait at least 5 years for the All-Star Game – especially because of the renovation – but I am just a tiny bit disappointed. The All-Star Game is fun, and seeing one at Wrigley would be pretty special (and hopefully loaded with young sluggers). The day will come, though, and I’ll definitely be going.