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The wait for another All-Star Game at Camden Yards has stretched past three decades, and it might stretch a little longer.
Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke with reporters Tuesday ahead of the All-Star Game in Philadelphia, and he acknowledged that MLB's plans for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics could delay the next round of host decisions.
Baltimore has been viewed as one of the favorites to land the event soon, along with Boston and Toronto, since none of the three markets have hosted since the 1990s.
If MLB and the players union work out a deal for big leaguers to play in Los Angeles, the league plans to shut the sport down for roughly 11 days to fit both the All-Star Game and a six-team Olympic tournament at Dodger Stadium into the same window.
That is why San Francisco's Oracle Park has emerged as the expected 2028 host, since keeping the game on the West Coast would ease player travel to Los Angeles.
Nothing is final yet, and Manfred admitted the whole situation has thrown off his usual approach to awarding the game.
"I think I have been more chronologically disciplined than my predecessor was in awarding Games," Manfred said. "But there's a lot of uncertainty about what we're going to do with '28."
He also explained why the league is willing to disrupt a full season for the Olympics at all.
"If we're disrupting an entire season, and we're going to undertake that effort, we want our very best out there so that people see how great our game really is," Manfred said.
Baltimore last hosted the All-Star Game in 1993, the second season of Camden Yards, and the drought has become one of the longest among established markets.
The case for ending it soon is strong.
Owner David Rubenstein has made landing the game a priority since buying the team, and the ballpark is in the middle of its biggest renovation ever, a state-financed project MLB would love to showcase.
With Philadelphia hosting this week and Wrigley Field locked in for 2027, Baltimore looked like a natural fit right after that.
If the Giants, who sit at 41-55 this season, get the 2028 game, the earliest realistic window for Baltimore becomes 2029, and it could slide into the early 2030s with Boston and Toronto waiting on the same list.
The good news is that hosting has little to do with the standings.
The Orioles reached the break at 46-51, fourth in the American League East, though the first half still gave fans moments worth remembering.
Colton Cowser delivered back-to-back walk-off wins against the Rays, Shane Baz has grown more comfortable in Baltimore, and Samuel Basallo keeps proving he is the club's most versatile bat.
Whenever the game finally returns to Camden Yards, the city will have waited long enough to make it feel earned.
Continue reading...
Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke with reporters Tuesday ahead of the All-Star Game in Philadelphia, and he acknowledged that MLB's plans for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics could delay the next round of host decisions.
Baltimore has been viewed as one of the favorites to land the event soon, along with Boston and Toronto, since none of the three markets have hosted since the 1990s.
What Manfred Said About 2028
If MLB and the players union work out a deal for big leaguers to play in Los Angeles, the league plans to shut the sport down for roughly 11 days to fit both the All-Star Game and a six-team Olympic tournament at Dodger Stadium into the same window.
That is why San Francisco's Oracle Park has emerged as the expected 2028 host, since keeping the game on the West Coast would ease player travel to Los Angeles.
Nothing is final yet, and Manfred admitted the whole situation has thrown off his usual approach to awarding the game.
"I think I have been more chronologically disciplined than my predecessor was in awarding Games," Manfred said. "But there's a lot of uncertainty about what we're going to do with '28."
He also explained why the league is willing to disrupt a full season for the Olympics at all.
"If we're disrupting an entire season, and we're going to undertake that effort, we want our very best out there so that people see how great our game really is," Manfred said.
Why the Orioles Were Next in Line
Baltimore last hosted the All-Star Game in 1993, the second season of Camden Yards, and the drought has become one of the longest among established markets.
The case for ending it soon is strong.
Owner David Rubenstein has made landing the game a priority since buying the team, and the ballpark is in the middle of its biggest renovation ever, a state-financed project MLB would love to showcase.
With Philadelphia hosting this week and Wrigley Field locked in for 2027, Baltimore looked like a natural fit right after that.
When Baltimore Could Realistically Host
If the Giants, who sit at 41-55 this season, get the 2028 game, the earliest realistic window for Baltimore becomes 2029, and it could slide into the early 2030s with Boston and Toronto waiting on the same list.
The good news is that hosting has little to do with the standings.
The Orioles reached the break at 46-51, fourth in the American League East, though the first half still gave fans moments worth remembering.
Colton Cowser delivered back-to-back walk-off wins against the Rays, Shane Baz has grown more comfortable in Baltimore, and Samuel Basallo keeps proving he is the club's most versatile bat.
Whenever the game finally returns to Camden Yards, the city will have waited long enough to make it feel earned.
Continue reading...
