WATCH: Rob Manfred on why Cubs finally gets the All-Star Game

Tony Crumpton · Senior Editor · 13 hours ago

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred met with the media from the Wrigley Field dugout to discuss the 2027 All-Star Game, his interaction with Bryce Harper and more.

Watch the pregame video below:

Video summary/cliff notes:

(00:01) MLB awarded Wrigley Field the 2027 All-Star Game because Chicago is overdue; the Ricketts family, city, and state invested significantly in renovations and infrastructure around the stadium.

(00:25) The delay in awarding the game was due to high competition from other cities and new stadiums, along with complex logistics involving hotels and venues.

(00:50) Final hurdle was perimeter security; cooperation from the city and state helped finalize those plans.

(01:10) Manfred dismissed concerns about a potential work stoppage, stating his "contingency plan" is to reach a new deal with players for the 2027 season.

(01:20) Addressing a recent incident involving Bryce Harper, Manfred downplayed it, saying it’s being overblown and doesn’t reflect broader league-player tensions.

(02:02) MLB is prioritizing the promotion of young players by enhancing the draft, combine, and minor league coverage to build fan familiarity early.

(02:29) Other than security, the biggest challenge in awarding Chicago the game was aligning schedules and resources like hotel availability due to the city’s busy event calendar.

(02:55) Planning unique aspects like the street setup for the Home Run Derby falls under the Cubs’ jurisdiction, not the Commissioner's.

(03:19) Manfred expressed confidence in avoiding a work stoppage before 2027, citing a strong labor negotiation track record since 1998.

(04:06) No All-Star Week venues in Chicago have been publicly announced yet. Plans are still in development.