MLB All-Star Game coming to ‘one of our iconic stadiums’

LOS ANGELES — Major League Baseball made it official on Wednesday, awarding the 2020 All-Star Game to the Dodgers.

Commissioner Rob Manfred was on hand for a press conference to announce the decision, joined by team president Stan Kasten and others on the temporary dais in center field at Dodger Stadium.

“The Dodgers prevailed in what has become a very competitive process,” Manfred said. “Dodger Stadium is one of our iconic stadiums, and it’s very important we bring an All-Star Game here.”

This is the first time Dodger Stadium will host an All-Star Game since 1980, a fact that wasn’t lost on Manfred or Kasten.

“The last time we had a gathering like this in center field was May 2, 2012, the press conference to announce the new ownership’s acquisition of the team,” Kasten said. “Rob was here as I fielded questions, among which ‘When are you guys going to get us an All-Star Game.’”

The highlight, per usual, involved Vin Scully, who wasn’t present at the announcement but he did narrate a video welcoming the All-Star Game to Los Angeles.

“We’ll welcome the best from all over the world to come to this special place, for this is more than steel, concrete, dirt and grass,” Scully said in the video. “This is our home, and we can’t wait.”

Kasten said there would likely be upgrades to Dodger Stadium in the next two years in preparation for the 2020 All-Star Game but didn’t offer any specifics just yet.

There are several logistical things that still need to be solved, like the venues for various events in the week surrounding the game. In addition to the Futures Game, Home Run Derby and All-Star Game over three days at Dodger Stadium, there is a Fan Fest plus several events and initiatives surrounding the game. The Dodgers also plan to send a team to both Washington D.C. this year and Cleveland next year to study what works and what doesn’t for those All-Star host cities.

The Dodgers were also passing around caps at the press conference, a lower-profile “LA” cap with the year in red on the front plus “2020 ASG” on the side, and a gold star in the “A”. These hats are not the official caps for the 2020 All-Star Game, but rather just marketing tools used today.