The Cleveland Indians Should Host the Next All-Star Game

May 7, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; MLB commissioner Rob Manfred speaks at a press conference before the game between the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Changes to All-Star Game Host Selection Coming

Rob Manfred and Major League Baseball did warn us back in February that the selection process for the MLB All-Star game will change.  Baseball wants the selection process to be more like the Super Bowl, where cities bid to host the game.

"“One of the things that I am going to try to do with All-Star Games is — and we’ll make some announcements in the relatively short-term — I am looking to be in more of a competitive-bidding, Super Bowl-awarding-type mode, as opposed to [saying], `You know, I think Chicago is a good idea.'”"

While some may not think this is a big deal, this quite the bombshell for me.  The All-Star game is about the fans of baseball. It’s why fans get to vote for the starters.  How is it going to be good for the fans if the game simply goes to the team that bids the highest?  Sure it will be great for fans in places like Chicago, New York, Boston, and Los Angeles, places that baseball is sure to want to see the game more than say Kansas City, Cleveland, Milwaukee, or Baltimore.

Perhaps though it won’t simply be about finances with the bids. Perhaps teams can show off their cities and new or improved stadiums as to why they deserve the game as well.  Maybe I’m naïve, but Cleveland could actually do well here.  As mentioned before, they have plenty of new ballpark improvements to show off, which could (maybe) be enticing to host an All-Star game.  There’s also the matter of the city of Cleveland.  The butt of many jokes, the city of Cleveland actually has some nice things going for it now.  They will be hosting the 2016 Republican National Convention next summer.  Efforts have been made to fix up the downtown in preparation for it.  Cleveland is still no Chicago or New York, but if baseball keeps an open mind then perhaps Cleveland still has a shot at hosting an All-Star game this decade.

Next: Should It Matter Which League Hosts the Game?