COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Just as we start inching towards normalcy during the pandemic, baseball fans were getting excited to be able to see games in person.
Major League Baseball’s 2021 All-Star game was slated to be played at Truist Park in July. It’s now heading somewhere else.
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Fans of all ages say they are disappointed MLB announced the decision to pull the game from Metro Atlanta over the new voting law.
Channel 2 Action News spoke to fans who were surprised and unhappy about the news.
“I think it’s very sad for the area. I live in Cobb County and everybody is looking forward to it,” said one fan.
“I just think it’s horrible that politics play such a role in everything, including sports. We definitely should have had the all star game here,” said another fan.
The announcement came after a week of criticism from Civil Rights groups and major corporations leading to discussions between county leaders, MLB and the league’s player association.
“I can say it was fruitful where we discussed the decision that was going to be made. Certainly I appealed for them to stay here in Cobb County,” said County Commission Chair Lisa Cupid.
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County leaders fear the decision will be a huge blow to the local economy. They are particularly worried about restaurants and hotels already reeling from the loss of business due to the pandemic.
“It’s bad enough that the pandemic hurt these restaurants and businesses but now the All-Star game and last year the Final Four, so it’s just two big hits,” said another baseball fan.
Some local business owners were hoping the “Midsummer Classic” would help make up for lost revenue over the past year.
“I just feel for the families, of my team members, the young people. The whole community that we serve,” said Marshall McCabe who owns a nearby Chick fil-a.
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The Braves, who were hosting the game, did release a statement saying all fans who purchased tickets would get an automatic refund.
