CHICAGO – With its ivy-covered walls and storied history, Wrigley Field has long been considered one of the crown jewels of baseball. And over the past decade-plus, the Cubs have worked to transform not only the ballclub, but also the neighborhood surrounding the Friendly Confines.
The Cubs already ended a 108-year World Series drought in 2016. Bringing the All-Star Game and all its festivities back to Wrigley Field for the first time since 1990 has also been a consistent goal for the organization. Wait ‘til 2027. The All-Star Game is returning to Chicago.
“The hard work put in to transform all of Wrigleyville into an outstanding destination deserves to be celebrated and shared on a national stage,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “We look forward to bringing the Midsummer Classic back to historic Wrigley Field and working alongside the Cubs, city and state officials, and the local organizing group to bring an extraordinary experience to the baseball fans of Chicago.
“Most importantly, Major League Baseball and its partners will leave behind a lasting impact on the communities across Chicago through the meaningful initiatives of the All-Star Legacy program.”
Fittingly, the news arrived on Friday morning – ahead of one of the Cubs’ famous 1:20 p.m. afternoon games at Wrigley Field. Major League Baseball and the Cubs announced in a ceremony at the ballpark that the 2027 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard would be played on Tuesday, July 13, amid the week’s celebration and events.
Beyond Manfred’s attendance on Friday morning, Cubs executive chairman Tom Ricketts was on hand, along with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and other team executives and alumni.
“This is an honor for our team, our city and our state,” Ricketts said. “We can’t wait to showcase how we have preserved this iconic ballpark. Wrigley Field means so much to Cubs fans and millions of people who have visited what we believe is a baseball cathedral and one of Illinois’ top tourist destinations.
“We play in a world-class city that is especially beautiful in the summer, and we’re looking forward to hosting the best players in our great game and fans from around the world.”
During the multi-phase renovations of Wrigley Field and areas around the ballpark between 2014-19, the Cubs prioritized maintaining the stadium’s classic look, feel and elements, while modernizing the venue. Another key step in landing the All-Star Game was improving security measures around the ballpark, and the Chicago City Council passed a plan in June to help address that component.
When the All-Star Game arrives at the corner of Clark and Addison Streets again, it will mark the fourth time that the Cubs have hosted the Midsummer Classic. The North Siders also had the All-Star Game in 1947, ‘62 and ‘90. Wrigley Field will join Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium and old Yankee Stadium in New York as the only ballparks to host a fourth time.
During the game in 1990, Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg – a 10-time All-Star across his Hall of Fame career – was in the starting lineup for the National League, along with Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson. Shawon Dunston, the Cubs’ shortstop at the time, was among the NL’s reserves for that contest. Sandberg also won the Home Run Derby that week.
The news of the All-Star Game’s return to Wrigley Field comes after Sandberg – a Cubs icon revered not only for his play on the field, but his quiet, caring personality off it – passed away on Monday after a battle with cancer. Outside the ballpark, fans have left flowers, hats, photos, notes and other mementos at the base of Sandberg’s statue.
