As the 2023 MLB All-Star Game concludes in Seattle on Tuesday night, all eyes now turn to the Lone Star State for the next edition of the prestigious event.
The upcoming 2024 MLB All-Star Game is scheduled to take place at Globe Life Field in Arlington. This will mark the first time that Globe Life Field, which opened in July 2020, will host the All-Star Game.
The Texas Rangers last hosted the All-Star Game in 1995 when they played at the nearby Choctaw Stadium, known then as the Ballpark in Arlington. During that memorable game, the National League emerged victorious with a score of 3-2, and the Rangers’ own Ivan Rodriguez served as the starting catcher for the American League.
With the game being held in Texas, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a strong presence of Rangers players on the American League team, especially considering the team’s impressive showing in this year’s All-Star Game with six players representing the AL.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed his satisfaction with awarding the 2024 All-Star Game to the Rangers, Arlington, and Fort Worth, praising their robust bid for All-Star Week. He also acknowledged the Rangers’ resilience and their successful hosting of the 2020 Postseason, including the World Series, at Globe Life Field. Manfred stated, “We are excited to once again showcase Baseball’s newest ballpark on a global stage next summer.”
However, the announcement of the 2024 MLB All-Star Game was not without controversy. It came as a surprise to some as the league seemed to have changed its stance from the previous year. In 2021, MLB moved the All-Star Game from Atlanta due to Georgia’s controversial voting laws. The decision was supported by President Joe Biden and influenced by the MLB Players Alliance. Yet, Texas passed a similar bill in September 2021, raising questions about the MLB’s decision-making process.
When asked about the change in the MLB’s stance, Rob Matwick, Rangers Executive Vice President of Business Operations, could not provide a clear answer and referred the question to the commissioner’s office or the governor’s office. Notably, there was no representative from Major League Baseball present at the press conference held outside Globe Life Field.
Despite the initial differences, Texas Governor Greg Abbott congratulated Arlington on securing the 2024 MLB All-Star Game. He praised the Rangers franchise and local leaders for their hard work, highlighting Texas as a premier destination for both business and baseball. Abbott expressed his anticipation for collaborating with community partners to ensure a remarkable All-Star Game experience in the Lone Star State.
Abbott’s statement in November 2022 marked a change in tone compared to his previous remarks in April 2021 when he declined to throw the first pitch at the Rangers’ opener, accusing MLB of perpetuating false political narratives. At that time, he stated that Texas would not seek to host the All-Star Game or any other MLB special events.