SF Wins 2028 All-Star Game
San Francisco's Oracle Park to Host 2028 MLB All-Star Game, Boosting City and Olympics Buzz
Key Points
In the 2007 All-Star Game at AT&T Park (now Oracle Park), Ichiro Suzuki hit the first inside-the-park home run in All-Star history and was named MVP, with Barry Bonds appearing as part of the Giants’ All-Star legacy; the 2007 Home Run Derby also famously produced no balls landing in McCovey Cove.
The 2028 All-Star Week in San Francisco is expected to feature a red-carpet show in addition to the Home Run Derby, Futures Game, and MLB Draft.
Oracle Park-area improvements include the Mission Rock development across from the ballpark as part of waterfront upgrades tied to hosting the All-Star events.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie drove the bid, sending a May 28 letter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred calling the city “the ideal stage for the Midsummer Classic” and highlighting a broader city resurgence.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledged issues with the MLBPA to resolve, signaling momentum toward players potentially participating in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics; holding the All-Star Game in SF would provide a short flight to L.A. for the Games if approved.
Major League Baseball has awarded the 2028 All-Star Game to the San Francisco Giants and Oracle Park, CBS Sports reported. It will be the fourth time San Francisco has hosted the Midsummer Classic — and the first since 2007.
The choice is no accident. Holding the game in San Francisco puts players a short flight from Los Angeles, where the 2028 Summer Olympics will take place just weeks later, according to USA Today. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has already signaled he wants players in those Games — a deal he still needs to work out with the players' union.
Mayor Lurie Pushed Hard to Land the Bid
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie led the city's push to secure the game. On May 28, he sent a letter directly to Commissioner Manfred calling San Francisco "the ideal stage for the Midsummer Classic." Lurie pointed to the city's baseball history, its waterfront setting, and what he called a broader city resurgence, according to SF Standard.
Giants leadership backed the pitch hard. Oracle Park sits along the Bay in one of the most recognizable ballpark settings in baseball. The area is also getting a makeover — the Mission Rock development across from the stadium is part of a larger waterfront upgrade tied to hosting the event, SF Standard reported.
A Full Week of Events Beyond the All-Star Game
The All-Star Game is just one piece of a packed week. Oracle Park will also host the Home Run Derby, the Futures Game, and the MLB Draft, according to MLB Trade Rumors. A red-carpet show is also planned as part of the festivities.
San Francisco has been on a run of landing big sports events. All-Star Week adds to that streak and is expected to bring a significant boost to the local economy. The city's compact, walkable waterfront makes it easy to move fans between venues and attractions throughout the week.
2007's Most Memorable All-Star Moment at This Same Park
The last time San Francisco hosted the All-Star Game, it produced one of the most memorable moments in the event's history. Ichiro Suzuki hit the first inside-the-park home run in All-Star Game history and was named MVP, according to CBS Sports. Barry Bonds also appeared that night in what became his 14th and final All-Star selection.
One thing that did not happen in 2007: no ball landed in McCovey Cove during the Home Run Derby. The cove sits just beyond the right-field wall and is famous for splash hits during the regular season. That detail became its own kind of footnote for Giants fans, Head Topics noted.
Olympics Connection Could Reshape Baseball's Summer Calendar
The timing of the 2028 All-Star Game is directly tied to the Los Angeles Olympics. MLB wants its players to compete in the Games. Manfred has said the league is working through issues with the MLB Players Association — the union that represents players — to make that happen, according to USA Today.
Hosting the All-Star Game in San Francisco makes the logistics easier. Players could finish All-Star Week in the Bay Area and take a short flight to Los Angeles for the Olympics. SF Standard reported that this proximity was a key factor in MLB's decision to pick San Francisco over other cities.
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