2013 MLB All-Star Game Goes to Mets, Citi Field

Today, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig officially announced that the 2013 All-Star Game will be played at Citi Field in New York.

The game, which will be played on July 16, 2013, will be the ninth All-Star Game held in New York – the most of any other city – but it will be only the second one ever hosted by the New York Mets. In 1964, during Shea Stadium’s inaugural season, the Mets also hosted the Midsummer Classic.

“Competition for All-Star Games over the last five years has been enormous,” Selig said at a press conference at City Hall in Lower Manhattan. “The new ballpark, Citi Field, that was certainly a primary reason for it.

“It was their time in a new ballpark.”

Selig added that the financial uncertainty surrounding the Mets’ ownership had little to do with the decision.

“As I said at the time, I have great faith in [Fred and Jeff Wilpon],” Selig said. “No trepidation at all, and now we’re announcing an All-Star Game.”

Beginning in 2009, Citi Field’s inaugural season, speculation began that the Mets could be potential candidates to host the All-Star Game. Now, the stadium will host the game in its fifth season of existence.

“If I knew how easy this was, I would have also asked to host the World Series this year,” quipped Mets owner Fred Wilpon. “This is something you hope and dream for. It’s one of major events of the Major League Baseball calendar, with the World Series, and I’m really pleased for New York to have it here.”

In announcing the game, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the economic impact for New York will be an estimated $191.5 million. Selig estimated that 176,000 people would participate in All-Star Game related activities, which will begin July 12 and stretch through to the weekend ahead of the game.

“It will celebrate the tradition of baseball and the tradition of baseball here in New York,” Selig said. “2008 was a wonderful experience and I look forward to being here in ’13.”

Related articles

• Mets to Host 2013 All-Star Game (wnyc.org)
• Report: MLB Expected To Announce Citi Field As Host Of 2013 MLB All-Star Game (tracking.si.com)
• MLB To Reportedly Announce Citi Field As Host Of 2013 All-Star Game On Wednesday (newyork.cbslocal.com)
• Mets expected to land 2013 All-Star Game (mlb.mlb.com)