By: Alina Dang
On Friday, July 3rd, Major League Baseball (MLB) cancelled the All-Star Game that was supposed to take place in Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California because of the coronavirus pandemic. This will be the first time that no game will be held since 1945.
The All-Star Game that was scheduled for July 14th was cancelled because of COVID-19. [Explain the concerns about COVID-19 exactly.] The Dodger Stadium waited forty years to host the All-Star Game, but the wait is going to extend even longer. Fortunately, the stadium has the honor to host the 2022 Midsummer Classic.
The next All-Star Game will replace this year’s. According to baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, “Once it became clear we were unable to hold this year’s All-Star festivities, we wanted to award the Dodgers with the next available All-Star Game, which is 2022.”
Although there could have been many circumstances warranting a cancellation, this is the first time that no game will be held since 1945. The last time it was cancelled was for travel restrictions —World War II kept the game scheduled for Boston’s Fenway Park and any player selections from taking place that year.
Ever since February 2018, Los Angeles started planning to host the games. The Los Angeles City Council estimated an economic impact of around $89.4 million from hosting the All-Star Game. The Dodgers had agreed to pay $100,000 for city services needed as part of the game.
The Dodger Stadium has been making some changes since 2013. In an article published in TIME, journalist Beth Harris wrote, “The ballpark has also gotten new HD video screens and sound systems, wider concourses and renovated restrooms, kids play areas, displays to honor the franchise’s storied history, new home and visiting clubhouses and batting cages. And that doesn’t include the $100 million in renovations that helped the Dodgers land the 2020 game. Those feature two acres of food and entertainment offerings in a new center field plaza and spruced-up outfield pavilions.”
The virus not only set back the start of the season, but also slowed down the work of the stadium.
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