Braves legend Hank Aaron and baseball commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday night helped unveil the official logo of next season’s MLB All-Star game, which will be played at Truist Park.
The reveal came in a digital ceremony televised on Fox Sports Southeast just before the start of the Braves' rain-delayed game against the Miami Marlins.
“I can’t wait for the 2021 All-Star game here in Atlanta,” Aaron said. “And here we go...”
With that, the logo was revealed.
Next year’s event, scheduled for July 13, will mark the third time the Braves have hosted the All-Star game since moving to Atlanta in 1966. They hosted the game at Atlanta Stadium (later renamed Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium) in 1972 and at Turner Field in 2000.
“Major League Baseball is eager for the return of the All-Star game and for the opportunity to put one of the game’s great new ballparks on a worldwide stage,” Manfred said. “Tonight marks the start of an exciting journey for the Braves' organization and its fans as our sport prepares for a thrilling postseason and for a successful All-Star week next summer.”
The 2020 All-Star game, scheduled for Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The 2021 game was awarded to Truist Park last year. Dodger Stadium will host the 2022 game.
MLB officially announced Thursday night the previously reported news that the sport’s amateur draft, conducted during the month of June every year since its inception in 1965, will be moved to July 11-13 next year and will be held as part of the All-Star festivities in Atlanta.
The draft will have a minimum of 20 rounds across three days. It will start following the July 11 All-Star Futures game at Truist Park.
The first night of the draft has been held at MLB Network’s studios in Secaucus, N.J., since 2009.
“We are pleased to make our draft the newest part of 2021 All-Star Week festivities in Atlanta,” Manfred said. “The All-Star game is a celebration of baseball, and the draft will highlight the amateur levels of our great game and its future stars.”
