Major League Baseball pulls 2021 All-Star Game out of Atlanta due to Georgia’s new restrictive voting law
The Battery is a lively venue featuring shops, bars and restaurants from local chefs at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves MLB team as the facility is currently closed while sports are on quarantine during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Atlanta, Georgia on April 18, 2020.
David J. Griffin | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Major League Baseball commissioner Robert Manfred announced Friday that the 2021 All-Star Game will no longer be held in Atlanta.
The decision follows an election bill signed on Wednesday by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, which opponents say disproportionately disenfranchises people of color.
“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.,” Commissioner of Baseball Robert Manfred, Jr., said. “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.”
Georgia’s new law adds guidelines around mail-in ballots, voter registration and provides state officials more authority around how elections are operated.
Critics of Georgia’s new voting laws say it will suppress votes, especially among people of color in underserved areas. In an interview with ESPN, President Joe Biden criticized the changes, calling it “Jim Crow on steroids.” The president said earlier this week he supported moving the MLB All-Star Game.
Business executives across the United States this week denounced the law. As of Thursday, MLB was discussing the status of the 2021 All-Star Game and was gathering feedback from teams and executives.
“Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box,” Manfred said. “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.”
Manfred said commitments to support local communities in Atlanta will move forward. MLB is still finalizing a new host city and “details about these events will be announced shortly,” he said.
CNBC’s Jabari Young contributed to this report.
