Get your tickets and scorecards ready, kids … Major League Baseball’ s“ Midsummer Classic” is coming to town!
The 89th Annual MLB All-Star Game will be hosted by the Washington Nationals and played at Nationals Park on July 17, 2018. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement on Opening Day, April 6, 2017, when the National League East Champion Washington Nationals kicked off their season against the New York Mets.
It has taken nearly 50 years for baseball’ s All-Star Game to return to the nation’ s capital. This year will mark the fifth time the event has been held in Washington, D. C. Previous games were played in 1937, 1956, 1962, and 1969, when it was hosted by Washington’ s previous baseball team, the Senators. That game was played at RFK Stadium, the first ballpark used by the Nationals after the team departed Montreal and arrived in DC in 2005.
D. C. UNITED
AUDI FIELD
Nationals Park is located in Southeast Washington, about two miles due east of the U. S. Capitol building, along the Anacostia River. It is only a few minutes over the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The All-Star Event will take center stage for several weeks this summer, as excitement builds before the Game even begins. The Home Run Derby is the most anticipated and popular event, and is held the day prior to the Game. This epic contest pits home run hitters against one another, and never fails to wow the crowd, as baseballs soar into the stands.
Prior to the Home Run Derby, the All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game is held. The teams are composed of a mix of stars from the host team’ s past, and celebrities from music, film and television.
Since 1999, the All-Star Futures Game has been a feature of All-Star Week. Young players from the United States are matched against a team composed of players from all other nations. The players are selected based on their minor league prospect rating.
Nationals Park opened in 2008 and accommodates 41,339 fans. Whether you are a hometown Nationals fan, or a visitor attending the“ Midsummer Classic”, this sparkling venue will command your attention. The moment you spy the grand outdoor staircase sweeping up to the entrance turnstiles, you will know you are in for a special experience.
Once inside, visitors can enjoy the Red Porch for food and spirits, the Team Store for souvenirs, and the Budweiser Brewhouse for draught beers. Favorite ballpark foods and drinks abound throughout Nationals Park, too.
The MLB All-Star Game is known for many traditions, but Nationals Park offers a famous one of its own— the“ Racing Presidents”. Watch and cheer as the clevercostumed past Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt try and outhustle each other along the base line. Who’ s got your vote?
Providing a shining backdrop for All-Star week is the nation’ s capital itself. A short drive from Nationals Park are some of our country’ s greatest landmarks, including the Capitol Building with its newly-restored dome, the White House, the Washington Mall, the Washington Monument, and the Smithsonian Museum, including its newest facility, the African American Museum of History and Culture.
This year’ s MLB All-Star Game logo captures the grandeur and symbolism of our nation’ s capital. Its focal point is the Capitol Dome, crowned with the bronze Statue of Freedom at its summit. Six stars on a blue crescent arch majestically behind the Dome, representing the three baseball divisions in the two Leagues- East, Central, and West. Under the arch, red and white stripes symbolize a waving American flag. Rounding out the bottom, two stars on a red background represent the American and National Leagues.
Our pride is showing. What could be more American? Batter up! Play ball!
D. C. United will open their new Audi Field— a 20,000 capacity soccer field— on July 14, three days before MLB All-Star Week. Audi Field is located along the Anacostia River in the historic Buzzard Point neighborhood in Washington, D. C— two blocks away from Nats Park. The new facility is custom built for D. C. United and replaces RFK Stadium. United spent 22 great seasons at RFK, and now fans will enjoy a soccer-specific stadium they have been craving for years.
D. C. soccer fans celebrated on Feb. 27, 2017 when United Managing Partner Jason Levien, Mayor Muriel Bowser, MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Audi of America President Scott Keogh joined members of the Black-and-Red family in officially announcing the groundbreaking for Audi Field at Buzzard Point. Media and fans gathered with players and team personnel to break ground with commemorative( and festive) D. C. United shovels in a celebration felt across the nation’ s capital.
The first game is scheduled for July 14 at 7 PM against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
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