Major League Baseball Pulls 2021 All-Star Game From Atlanta

UPDATE, with Atlanta Braves statement Major League Baseball will move this summer’s All-Star Game out of Atlanta in protest of Georgia’s recently passed voting laws.

MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. made the announcement today, stating: “Over the last week, we have engaged in thoughtful conversations with Clubs, former and current players, the Players Association, and The Players Alliance, among others, to listen to their views. I have decided that the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year’s All-Star Game and MLB Draft.”

The decision to move the July game away from Atlanta’s Truist Park was opposed by the Atlanta Braves. “This was neither our decision, nor our recommendation and we are saddened that fans will not be able to see this event in our city,” the Braves organization tweeted today, noting that it was “deeply disappointed” by the move.

“The Braves organization will continue to stress the importance of equal voting opportunities and we had hoped our city could use this event as a platform to enhance the discussion,” the statement said. “Our city has always been known as a uniter in divided times and we will miss the opportunity to address issues that are important to our community.”

Read the Braves’ statement below.

The news comes as the state’s restrictive voting law has been lambasted by President Joe Biden, Tyler Perry (one of Georgia’s biggest employers of film and TV workers) and such Georgia-based corporations as Delta and Coca-Cola.

The new backlash recalls the 2019 outcry when Georgia passed a sweeping anti-abortion law in 2019, triggering a reaction by Hollywood and lawsuits from the ACLU and others. A federal judge blocked the legislation a few months later.

“Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box,” Manfred said today. “In 2020, MLB became the first professional sports league to join the non-partisan Civic Alliance to help build a future in which everyone participates in shaping the United States. We proudly used our platform to encourage baseball fans and communities throughout our country to perform their civic duty and actively participate in the voting process. Fair access to voting continues to have our game’s unwavering support.”

See Manfred’s full statement below.

MLB is seeking a new host city, with details to be announced shortly.

The announcement echoes the decision of the NBA to relocate its 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte, NC, following that state’s passages of an anti-LGBT law.

Here is Manfred’s statement in full:

Over the last week, we have engaged in thoughtful conversations with Clubs, former and current players, the Players Association, and The Players Alliance, among others, to listen to their views. I have decided that the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year’s All-Star Game and MLB Draft.

Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box. In 2020, MLB became the first professional sports league to join the non-partisan Civic Alliance to help build a future in which everyone participates in shaping the United States. We proudly used our platform to encourage baseball fans and communities throughout our country to perform their civic duty and actively participate in the voting process. Fair access to voting continues to have our game’s unwavering support.

We will continue with our plans to celebrate the memory of Hank Aaron during this season’s All-Star festivities. In addition, MLB’s planned investments to support local communities in Atlanta as part of our All-Star Legacy Projects will move forward. We are finalizing a new host city and details about these events will be announced shortly.