Atlanta Braves Waiting All-Star Game Confirmation
By Deke Lloyd
The Braves are hosting an event, on Wednesday, in anticipation of the 2021 All-Star Game announcement. The stars are coming out for the event, Chipper Jones, Hank Aaron, John Smoltz, Brian Jordan,Phil Niekro, Dan Uggla, Gary Matthews, and Terry Pendleton, all waiting for Suntrust Park to be named as the hosting site of the 2021 All-Star game.
Atlanta has become accustomed to hosting big events, Super Bowl, NCAA Title game, and MLS Championship, as of late. With the Final Four coming next year, the city of Atlanta was only missing baseball to round out the complete set. With the tentative announcement coming Wednesday, Atlanta will soon be the host of the MLB All-Star game in 2021.
If Atlanta, and it’s only if because the official announcement has yet to be made, gets the All-Star game, it will be their third time hosting. The first, in 1972 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Next, in 2000 at Turner Field. And now, the Braves will host the All-Star game in their newest ballpark, Suntrust Park in 2021.
In 1972, Hank Aaron was the city’s representative for that All-Star game. In 2000, Chipper did everything he could to win the All-Star game MVP by going 3-3 with a home run in front of the home crowd, but was beat out by Derek Jeter for the honor. In 2021, we won’t know who will be the representative for the city, but the choices are plentiful. Ronald Acuna Jr. and Freddie Freeman are the obvious choices. Mike Soroka, Max Fried, Dansby Swanson, Austin Riley, or some other player who has yet to make his mark could be the guy in 2021. Whoever takes that mantle, it’s known the Braves will be represented in 2021.
Suntrust Park was built for this very reason. It’s a beautiful park surrounded by great restaurants and other entertainment options. The park is everything that the Braves and fans anticipated it would be. And now the Braves and city of Atlanta will get to show off their work. It’s still a couple years out so it won’t mean as much today, but when the 2021 All-Star game rolls around, the city of Atlanta will get to show off what they’ve built. The announcement will be taking place, becoming official, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, before the Nationals game.